This Sunday, Liverpool got back to Anfield as Premier League Champions to face Aston Villa in the competition’s 33rd Gameweek. The Reds suffered but found second-half goals from Senegal international Sadio Mane and Liverpool Academy’s Curtis Jones to seal a 2-0 home win over Villa.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were far from perfect, and if it wasn’t for world-class goalkeeper Alisson Becker, things could have been way harder for the Champions. It was a good bounce back from the midweek defeat at Man City, though.
Klopp made some subs into the starter team and promoted Naby Keita, Chamberlain, and Origi among the starters. Therefore, Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Firmino were on the bench.
The first half was lukewarm. Without much, other than records to fight for, Liverpool presented a sloppy football. Aston Villa, therefore, was the one who threatened the most.
At 20, Grealish took a free-kick and Konza headed at the crossbar. At 32, Brazilian Douglas Luiz’s shot was kept out by Alisson.
In the second half, Klopp introduced Wijnaldum, Firmino and Henderson, as they could set the tempo high. The deadlock was broken on 70 minutes, as Keita assisted Mane, as the latter finished it off from close-range.
The Reds wrapped it up on 88, as Mohamed Salah passed it to Jones, as the Liverpool youngster slotted a beautiful shot home to make it two and seal the Liverpool win at Anfield.
The Premier League Champions reached 89 points, with 15 to go. The Reds need 12 more points to break Manchester City’s 100-point record. On the next matchday, the Reds will face Brighton away, as Villa will host Manchester United.