Liverpool level on points with City after 2-1 win
Liverpool have ensured the English Premier League’s thrilling title race will stretch into the final week of the season.
A come-from-behind 2-1 win at Aston Villa, sealed by a 65th-minute header by Sadio Mane, showed Liverpool’s heart for the fight and moved Jürgen Klopp’s team level on points with Manchester City yesterday.
“It’s about digging in, keeping going and finding a way to win,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said.
City still lead thanks to their superior goal difference. The defending champions play their game in hand against Wolverhampton today, after which the two title rivals will have only two more league games to play.
The earliest City could now clinch the league is next Tuesday, when Liverpool play their next league game — at Southampton. Before that, City play twice, against Wolves then West Ham on Sunday.
“We cannot do more than win,” Klopp said. “A lot of people thought this could be a banana skin, that it could be a struggle for us, and how the boys sorted that was absolutely outstanding.”
The Reds, who drew 1-1 with Tottenham last
Saturday, avoided having their title bid further derailed by a Villa team managed by one of their greatest players.
Steven Gerrard, a boyhood Liverpool fan and former star midfielder, insisted his focus was purely on winning the game for Villa and saw midfielder Douglas Luiz — who was once on Man City’s books — give his team the lead in the third minute. The Brazilian forced the ball in from close range after his initial header was only parried out by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Villa held the lead for less than three minutes, with Joel Matip equalising by converting into an unguarded empty net after fellow centre back Virgil van Dijk had a shot saved by goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Ahead of the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, Klopp chose to leave out left back Andrew Robertson from the squad entirely and begin with Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alcantara on the bench. 1:30 p.m: Leeds vs Chelsea
1:45 p.m: Leicester vs Norwich 1:45 p.m: Watford vs Everton
2:15 p.m: Wolverhampton vs Man City