Liverpool remain in the Premier League title race after beating Aston Villa 2-1 away from home on Tuesday. Sadio Mane scored Liverpool’s winning goal in the 65th minute of the fiercely contested fixture. The Reds made a comeback in the second half to keep pressure on Manchester City in the English Premier League title race.
Liverpool, who have two matches left, went behind before five minutes when Luiz pounced on the rebound from his own saved header and blasted the ball into the roof of the net to hand Villa an early lead.
Matip put Jurgen Klopp’s side back on level terms minutes later, pouncing on a shot from Virgil van Dijk that was blocked into his path and reaching out to poke home to make it 1-1.
The visitors, who were playing in an uncomfortable manner, suffered a setback around the half-hour mark as defensive midfielder Fabinho was forced off injured as the first half finished level.
Praises on Mane
Magnificent from Mane. Even before he scored a scorching game-winner, he was the best Liverpool player on the pitch. Has scored 12 goals since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, more than any other Liverpool player in that time. Mane has seen his form transformed by moving to play centre-forward, mastering the role as he did the right and left wings. His captain Jordan Henderson was effusive in his praise of the Senegalese striker.
“He’s a machine, I told him after the game. He is a massive player. His physicality is brutal. He is a mix of technique, desire and physicality when at the moment everyone has a few yards in the legs,” Klopp said. “You can see it with him to be honest. Top goal, he is just a fantastic world-class player.”
Liverpool, who can still win the Quadruple, have a busy end to an already packed campaign, playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 14, and Real Madrid in the Champions League final on May 28, along with their remaining Premier League matches against Southampton and Wolves on May 17 and 22, respectively, in between.
“It was always going to be tough and we have to keep going. We’re in the same position as we were before the game. It was a big game and another three points,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said after the game.
“We concentrate on what we need to do. It is another big game at the weekend, the FA Cup final and we have to recover for that. It is out of our control [the title race], we do not need to waste energy on that.”
Steven Gerrard’s Villa remain in 11th place on 43 points with three games left to play, starting with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
