Mane caps thrilling Liverpool fightback to sink Aston Villa
Result leaves leaders on 31 points, six above City who beat Southampton
BIRMINGHAM: Sadio Mane scored a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool came from the brink of defeat to beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday and keep their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League over Manchester City. Left-back Andy Robertson charged in from the flank to meet Mane’s cross in the 87th minute with Liverpool facing the imminent end of their unbeaten record in the league. Seven minutes later, Mane scored a dramatic second goal with a header.
Liverpool had earlier missed a succession of chances to level the game following Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan’s goal for Villa.
The hosts snatched the lead in the 21st minute when Trezeguet reacted quickest to knock John Mcginn’s cross past goalkeeper Alisson.
That was judged onside by video review, though it was close, but VAR took the opposite view when Roberto Firmino put the ball in the net for Liverpool shortly after.
After a lengthy review of Firmino beating Tyrone Mings to Sadio Mane’s cross, VAR showed Firmino’s right shoulder fractionally - and contentiously - offside. The Premier League said on Twitter that VAR’S line was “aligned to his armpit, which was marginally ahead of the last Villa defender.” Firmino had been given offside by the assistant referee before the review.
Liverpool have not lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in January.
MAN UNITED LOSE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lamented a ‘lack of quality’ from his Manchester United side after their recent revival ended in a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Joshua King’s volley close to half-time brought United down to earth after three successive away wins in all competitions and means they have still not won back-to-back Premier League games since Solskjaer was made permanent manager in March.
The closest they came to equalising was through teenaged substitute Mason Greenwood late on as they huffed and puffed in windy conditions on the south coast. Solskjaer side have 13 points from 11 games and sit in mid-table.
AGUERO STARS FOR CITY Manchester City survived a scare at home to a battling Southampton as late goals from Sergio Aguero and Kyle Walker earned them a 2-1 victory in the Premier League on Saturday.
Southampton, thrashed 9-0 by Leicester City last week and beaten 3-1 by City in the League Cup in midweek, took a shock lead when James Ward-prowse scored in the 13th minute.
City spent the rest of the game battering at Southampton’s defence to little effect but finally equalised in the 70th minute when Aguero turned in Walker’s cross.
Southampton dug deep trying to hang on for an unlikely point but were breached again when Walker slid the ball home in the 87th minute.
WOLVES HOLD ARSENAL A header by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Raul Jimenez cancelled out Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s first-half goal for Arsenal as the teams played out a 1-1 draw in their Premier League clash that smouldered for long periods, but never really caught fire.
Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil was in the team after his midweek League Cup performance but there was no place in the squad for captain Granit Xhaka, who was heavily criticised following his angry reaction to being substituted last week.