REDS HUNGRY FOR RECORD
Sadio unlocks Villa to keep record points haul in sight
2 LIVERPOOL V ASTON VILLA 0
JURGEN KLOPP has insisted there will be no let-up from his newly-crowned champions in their bid to seal a record-breaking season.
Sadio Mane, right, and youngster Curtis Jones struck late on against struggling Aston Villa to move Liverpool closer to becoming the first top-flight side in modern history to win every home game in an English league season. Klopp said: “I think the boys know it – I don’t have to tell them. If we want to have records
WHEN Jurgen Klopp urged people not to turn up at Anfield, maybe his champions thought he was referring to them.
But while the best team in the land did not show for this contest, Sadio Mane did. Fortunately for Klopp, he never takes a day off.
When the individual accolades are dished out at the end of this surreal season, there is a chance Liverpool players will split the vote and allow Kevin De Bruyne to collect the honours.
That would hardly be illdeserved, but it would be a real shame if Mane did not get the recognition his contribution to Liverpool’s cause deserves.
In keeping with the overall standard of this occasion, Mane was not at his brilliant best.
But he made the decisive run and struck the decisive shot just when it mattered.
And that has become Mane’s trademark. An important goalscorer, a scorer of important goals.
In the grand scheme of things, the one that put Liverpool on course for another victory here was not of monumental significance – unlike the winner he scored in the dying seconds of the fixture at Villa Park earlier in the season.
But Klopp will want the Premier League points record and as big a winning margin over Manchester City as is possible.
And before Mane turned up for this match, Villa looked to be heading for a share of the spoils.
Indeed, they should be kicking themselves for failing to take advantage of a Liverpool performance that was, for large periods, unrecognisable. After a poor first half,Villa had the first decent chance but Anwar El Ghazi allowed Alisson to save far too comfortably.
Villa looked bereft of confidence in an attacking sense even though this was as vulnerable as you are likely to see Liverpool’s defence.
And when Villa failed to take their half-chances here, there was always the possibility Liverpool’s class would eventually make itself known.
Sure enough, Naby Keita spotted Mane slipping his marker and the Senegalese striker finished via the underside of the crossbar.
It was no surprise that Liverpool looked a little more like themselves when Klopp brought on Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum.
And it was no surprise a second goal arrived late on, Curtis Jones coming off the bench to record his first in the Premier League.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 6, Gomez 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 5 (Williams 90); Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Wijnaldum 60, 6), Fabinho 6 (Henderson 60, 6), Keita 7 (Jones 85); Salah 6, Origi 5 (Firmino 60, 6), Mane 7. Goals: Mane 72, Jones 89 ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Reina 7; Konsa 6, Hause 7, Mings 7, Taylor 6; Douglas Luiz 7, McGinn 7; El Ghazi 6 (Jota 74, 6), Grealish 7, Trezeguet 6 (Vassilev 85); Davis 5 (Samatta 74, 6).