Mane nets winner to boost Reds’ title hopes
SADIO MANE kept Liverpool’s quadruple hopes alive after a frantic comeback win at Aston Villa.
The forward’s 22nd goal of the season earned Jurgen Klopp’s side a 2-1 victory and moved them level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Joel Matip cancelled out Douglas Luiz’s opener during a mad opening six minutes.
Liverpool trail City on goal difference and their rivals have the chance to move three points clear with two games left when they travel to Wolves on Wednesday.
Klopp now takes his side to
Wembley for Saturday’s FA Cup final with Chelsea in the next stage of their quadruple quest.
Mo Salah started on the bench ahead of the Wembley showdown and the gamble looked to be backfiring when mid-table Villa took a thirdminute lead.
Ollie Watkins raced behind the Liverpool defence and Alisson beat away his powerful drive, only for the Reds to concede immediately after.
Matty Cash’s cross found its way to Lucas Digne and his delivery was met by Luiz whose header was initially parried by Alisson, only for the midfielder to hammer in the follow up from close range.
It sent Villa Park wild but the home crowd were silenced just three minutes later when Liverpool scrambled a leveller.
A chaotic opening continued when Tyrone Mings made a complete mess of clearing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick and Matip poked in Virgil van Dijk’s centre from four yards.
Liverpool grabbed the lead after 65 minutes.
Diogo Jota sent Diaz away
on the left and he teased Mings before delivering the perfect cross for the unmarked Mane to glance in his eighth goal in his last 11 games.
Even then, Villa had the chance for an immediate reply but Danny Ings’s touch let him down when through.