Liverpool come from behind vs Villa

Result

Tuesday’s only Premier League clash played out a short time ago and saw Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa host Liverpool.

Liverpool headed into the game having been dealt a blow in their pursuit of the 2021/22 Premier League title this past weekend.

The Reds drew 1-1 with Tottenham on Saturday evening whilst Manchester City put five past Newcastle United on Sunday.

As a result, Liverpool were three points adrift of Manchester City with just three league games left to play. City also have a four better goal difference thanks to their dominant win over Newcastle.

In turn, Liverpool really needed a dominant win over their former player’s side on Tuesday.

And, when all was said and done at Villa Park, Liverpool did manage to come away with a 2-1 win.

Aston Villa started well with Ollie Watkins working a good chance for himself, which was saved by Alisson. The Villains then took the lead just moments later after Liverpool failed to clear the ball and Alisson parried Douglas Luiz’s effort straight back at the Brazilian, who made no mistake a second time.

ASTON VILLA LEAD! ?

Douglas Luiz slams the ball home from close range and what a goal this could be in the race for the title! pic.twitter.com/JSozF374ZS

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 10, 2022

However, Liverpool hit back almost instantly via Joel Matip.

What a response from Liverpool!

Joël Matip pokes the ball home and what a start we’ve had here at Villa Park! ? pic.twitter.com/gE2Y4vnp9b

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 10, 2022

Mane then headed Liverpool into the lead after 64 minutes and that is how the tie finished.

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Aston Villa player ratings

Emiliano Martinez (5) – Could have done better when closing down Van Dijk when he set up Matip.

Matt Cash (6) – Put in a number of good crosses throughout the match.

Ezri Konsa (5) – Poor marking of Sadio Mane for his goa.

Tyrone Mings (3) – Poor attempt at a clearance for Matip’s equaliser. Nearly gave away another goal late in the tie as well.

Lucas Digne (6) – Created some good chances with his passing and crosses. Was also solid defensively.

John McGinn (5.5) – Made some good tackles to help break up Liverpool attacks.

Marvelous Nakamba (6) – Failed to clear the ball in the build-up to Matip’s goal. Made some decent tackles and interceptions before he was subbed off though.

Douglas Luiz (6.5) – Scored the opening goal thanks to some help from Alisson but his poor pass led to the counter for Liverpool’s second of the day.

Philippe Coutinho (6) – Did a great job of marking Fabinho out of the game before he went down injured. Was less effective going forward.

Danny Ings (4) – Should have done much better with a headed chance 23 minutes in and then again 68 minutes in when he found himself through on goal.

Ollie Watkins (5) – Threw his weight around, causing Liverpool’s defence some issues but was unable to get a goal.

Substitutes

Carney Chukwuemeka (3) – Had little impact on the game.

Emiliano Buendia (3) – Brought on with Aston Villa in need of a second goal, which he did not help provide.

Bertrand Traore (N/A)

Liverpool player ratings

Alisson (2) – Parried the ball straight back at Luiz for the opener. Nearly gifted Villa a second goal with a poor clearance straight to Watkins.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (4.5) – Produced a couple of good long balls/crosses but none of them came to anything.

Virgil van Dijk (7) – Set up Matip for his goal and make some key tackles, including denying Coutinho when he would have been through on goal.

Joel Matip (7) – Scored Liverpool’s first of the night and was ok defensively.

Kostas Tsimikas (5) – Did not track Luiz for his goal. Good tackle early in the second half to deny Watkins a great shooting chance.

Fabinho (1) – Was completely marked out of the game by Coutinho before he was taken off injured.

Naby Keita (4) – Missed a sitter from 10 yards when he was unmarked, passing was not great.

Curtis Jones (3) – Showed patches of quality but struggled to have much of an impact on the game. Off after 61 minutes.

Sadio Mane (7) – Missed a good chance 19 minutes in, heading wide from a Tsimikas cross. Made up for it in the second half when he headed in Diaz’s cross.

Luis Diaz (6.5) – Not his most effective showing but did set up Mane for Liverpool’s second.

Diogo Jota (5.5) – A very quiet first 45 but then produced an excellent ball for Diaz in the build-up to Mane’s goal.

Substitutes

Jordan Henderson (4) – A decent but unspectacular showing.

Thiago (5) – Brought on to add some much-needed creativity and link Liverpool’s midfield and attack, which he did to a certain extent.

Mohamed Salah (5) – Caused Villa some problems with his pace and quick feet but didn’t get his goal.

What the experts said

Another great finish from Mane. Superb season again from him. #AVLLIV

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) May 10, 2022

Jon Moss has been remarkably bad here. Proper end of season, flip-flops on stuff.

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) May 10, 2022

You can’t miss that keita… ?

— José enrique (@Jesanchez3) May 10, 2022

Lucas Digne won more duels (6) than any other Aston Villa or Liverpool player.

Battling display. ? pic.twitter.com/CWg2PAjtiy

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 10, 2022

15 – Liverpool are just the second team in Premier League history to have three players reach 15+ goals in a single campaign (Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota), after Manchester City’s title winning side of 2013-14 (Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, Edin Dzeko). Spread. pic.twitter.com/l3f69Q8rzg

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 10, 2022

What the fans said

Seriously wtf does Keita do for us? 43 minutes and nothing from him defensively or going forward

— KINGLENNY (@kinglenny1892) May 10, 2022

Villa’s goal btw.#AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/bdisE69whv

— EL-NiNÖ (@torresssss66) May 10, 2022

This ref performance is becoming ridiculous. Never seen anything quite so biased to a top 2 team. #avfc

— Villa Views (@VillaViews_) May 10, 2022

Mane has stepped up where Salah hasn’t.

Put them both on 300k and be done with it.

— Prime_Ribona (@PrimeRibona) May 10, 2022

What you may have missed

6 – This is the first time both Aston Villa and Liverpool have scored against each other inside the first six minutes of a Premier League meeting. Chaotic.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 10, 2022

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The Premier League table as it stands

Last updated: 1 min ago