Trent Alexander-Arnold scored an injury-time winner as Liverpool came from behind to beat Aston Villa and end a run of six consecutive defeats at Anfield.
Ollie Watkins – who scored a hat-trick in Villa’s 7-2 win in the reverse game – fired the visitors ahead with a shot which squirmed through Alisson.
Liverpool were denied an equaliser by an extremely tight video assistant referee offside decision. Roberto Firmino fired home from close range but a long VAR review ruled that Diogo Jota was just offside in the build-up.
They did eventually equalise when Mohamed Salah headed into an empty net after Emiliano Martinez parried Andy Robertson’s cross.
That was their first goal in open play at Anfield since 27 December – a run of 765 minutes and 132 shots since Sadio Mane scored against West Brom. They netted one penalty at their home ground in that time.
Villa went close to a winner as Trezeguet’s spinning effort hit the post.
But the Reds kept persisting and Alexander-Arnold curled home from the edge of the box after Villa failed to clear the ball.
Liverpool move up to fourth place, above West Ham on goal difference, with Villa staying in 10th.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 47Phillips
- 19KabakSubstituted forShaqiriat 89′minutes
- 26RobertsonBooked at 74mins
- 5WijnaldumSubstituted forThiago Alcántaraat 70′minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 7MilnerBooked at 65mins
- 11Salah
- 9FirminoSubstituted forManéat 75′minutes
- 20Jota
Substitutes
- 6Thiago Alcántara
- 8Keita
- 10Mané
- 13Adrián
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 21Tsimikas
- 23Shaqiri
- 28Davies
- 46R Williams
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26MartÃnez
- 2Cash
- 4KonsaBooked at 25mins
- 5Mings
- 18TargettBooked at 73mins
- 6Douglas LuizBooked at 49mins
- 19NakambaSubstituted forBarkleyat 66′minutes
- 15TraoréSubstituted forEl Ghaziat 68′minutes
- 7McGinn
- 17TrézéguetSubstituted forRamseyat 82′minutes
- 11WatkinsBooked at 85mins
Substitutes
- 1Heaton
- 3Taylor
- 20Barkley
- 21El Ghazi
- 22Engels
- 27El Mohamady
- 30Hause
- 39Davis
- 41Ramsey
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 2, Aston Villa 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Aston Villa 1.
Attempt saved. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Xherdan Shaqiri.
Hand ball by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
Attempt missed. Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Matthew Cash with a cross.
Foul by Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Liverpool 2, Aston Villa 1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Thiago (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Xherdan Shaqiri with a cross.
Substitution, Liverpool. Xherdan Shaqiri replaces Ozan Kabak.
Foul by Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Thiago (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Offside, Aston Villa. Emiliano MartÃnez tries a through ball, but Ollie Watkins is caught offside.
Substitution, Aston Villa. Jacob Ramsey replaces Trézéguet because of an injury.
Attempt saved. Ross Barkley (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ollie Watkins with a headed pass.
Substitution, Liverpool. Sadio Mané replaces Roberto Firmino.
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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