Liverpool edge past Villa to keep title hopes alive

Sadio Mane earned Liverpool a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Aston Villa to keep the Premier League title race alive.

Douglas Luiz's early goal had left Jurgen Klopp's side up against it inside three minutes but Joel Matip soon equalised and Mane completed the turnaround midway through the second half. The win moves Liverpool back level on points with leaders Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's side still have a game in hand and the victory at Villa Park also came at a cost - Fabinho trudging off injured in the first half. But Jurgen Klopp will just be glad to have come through this test as former Reds hero Steven Gerrard certainly had Villa fired up.

Liverpool, having named Mohamed Salah among their substitutes in a nod to their congested fixture list, were under pressure from the start and fell behind from the first attack amid a frenzied atmosphere. There were a series of errors in the build-up.

Kostas Tsimikas, in for Andy Robertson, tumbled to the ground and was joined by Matip, allowing Luiz to have a free header from Lucas Digne's left-wing cross. Alisson spilt it when he might have pushed the ball away and the Brazilian put in the rebound.

With Klopp looking on bemused, it was all the encouragement Villa needed - but they undid their good work with some hapless defending of their own moments later. Tyrone Mings failed to clear and though Virgil van Dijk's shot was saved, Matip prodded in the follow-up.

That seemed to settle Liverpool and there were chances for Diogo Jota and Mane soon after as the Champions League finalist began to crank up the pressure. And yet, there was danger too when Alisson's woeful clearance struck Ollie Watkins and more panic ensued.

Liverpool were playing football on the edge, knowing that