Reds bring down Villa
Mane exploits keep champions in record hunt
London, July 6: Sadio Mane helped Liverpool keep alive their bid to set a new Premier League points record as the champions beat Aston Villa 2-0, while struggling West Ham twice blew the lead in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are hoping to break Manchester City’s Premier League record of 100 points and second-half strikes from Mane and Curtis Jones ensured they still have a chance to shatter that mark.
Mane’s 20th goal in all competitions this season was followed by Jones’ 89th-minute strike.
Jones netted from 12 yards for his first Premier League goal, just 24 hours after the promising midfielder signed a new contract. Liverpool need 12 points from their remaining five games to surpass City’s 100-point total from 2017-18.
Villa remain in the relegation zone, one point from safety as they battle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
SOUTHAMPTON DUMP MANCHESTER CITY
Che Adams scored from a spectacular long-range lob for his first goal for Southampton to earn a surprising 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League.
Adams struck a curling first-time effort from around 40 meters that sailed over stranded goalkeeper Ederson Moraes and into an unguarded net in the 16th minute.
The result left secondplace City 23 points behind already-crowned champion Liverpool with five games remaining. Southampton climbed to 13th place and is assured of another season in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion moved a step closer to the Premier League after Matheus Pereira turned on the style in a 4-2 win over Hull on Sunday.
Charlie Austin opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Ahmed Hegazi, Kamil Grosicki and Grady Diangana also found the back of the net for West Brom’s victory.
Slaven Bilic’s side are five points ahead of third placed Brentford and one point behind leaders Leeds with five games left in the race for automatic promotion. — Agencies