We’re just a few minutes away from kick-off, as Liverpool look to make it 28 Premier League games unbeaten.
It’s unlikely to be easy though against a Villa side that have won two of their last three games, and have caused a few of the big sides problems already this season.
With Man City hosting struggling Southampton in another of today’s 3pm kick-offs, Liverpool will likely need to win to maintain their six-point lead at the top.
Having dropped points just once in their opening 10 league games this season though, Jurgen Klopp’s men will be confident of continuing their phenomenal recent form.
Confirmation of today’s teams…
Team news, presented by @etoro
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 2, 2019
It's 1⃣ change to the line-up from our last #PL match as @AElGhazi7 comes in for @JackGrealish1. @OfficialTM_3 skippers the team.🦁#AVFC pic.twitter.com/lSKPaXX0dU
⚪️ #AVLLIV TEAM NEWS ⚪️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 2, 2019
Today's line-up at Villa Park... https://t.co/UnfnuoJiXD
100 - Trent Alexander-Arnold is making his 100th appearance in all competitions for Liverpool today. Since his debut in October 2016, only Roberto Firmino (36), Mohamed Salah (28) and James Milner (22) have more assists for the Reds than the 21-year-old (21). Milestone. #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/rwey7XliX5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2019
We’re under way…
Chance for Villa straight away.
El Ghazi gets through the Liverpool defence too easily, but his shot from the edge of the area is straight at Alisson.
An encouraging start for the hosts.
Liverpool have been better since that early scare.
They’ve largely dominated possession and controlled the game, but have yet to carve out a clear-cut opening.
Nervy moment for Liverpool.
Jordan Henderson’s backpass looks underhit, in a manner akin to James Milner against Arsenal in the week, but Alisson manages to get to the ball ahead of the attacker.
As I type, a cross is whipped into the box by Targett, with Wijnaldum appearing to play three Villa attackers onside, though they all narrowly miss the ball in.
Villa have been the more threatening side so far.
Liverpool have been slightly subdued, though you get the feeling Dean Smith’s side need to capitalise during this promising early spell, or they will rue not doing so later in the match.
Great chance for Liverpool!
A cross is half cleared. On the right-hand side of the box, Henderson then lofts the ball into the box for Mane, who gets in front of Guilbert. The Senegal international then heads it across the goal and inches wide.
Moments later, Van Dijk plays a superb long pass to Salah, whose first-time sidefooted volley from a tight angle is parried away by Heaton.
ASTON VILLA 1-0 LIVERPOOL (TREZEGUET 21)
Villa take a shock lead and it’s a poor goal from a Liverpool perspective.
McGinn’s free kick from the left sees Trezeguet latching onto it, beating Liverpool’s offside trap and volleying it in through the legs of Alisson.
After a lengthy VAR check for offside in a decision that looks incredibly close, the goal is given.
Interestingly, both the title contenders are currently trailing.
A James Ward-Prowse goal after 13 minutes has put Southampton 1-0 up against Man City at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, as I type, Liverpool are responding well to the goal.
Alexander-Arnold charges forward and his shot is deflected out for a corner.
Firmino has the ball in the net, converting an open goal from a Mane cross, but it’s ruled out after another long VAR check.
That looked very tight. The offside flag was raised immediately, before doubt started to creep in, with the Brazilian appearing to be onside on the initial replay.
Robertson’s cross is well cut out by Engels.
Liverpool are looking increasingly dangerous in attack, and it’s hard to see them not scoring the way this game is going.
As I type though, Villa, counter. El Ghazi produces a good cross to Trézéguet at the back post, but the Egypt international completely mishits his volley.
Mane has just been booked for a blatant dive in the box.
Guilbert made it clear to show the referee he did not commit to the challenge, with the Senegal international backed into a tight space.
Liverpool may be a goal down, but they have been the far superior team in recent minutes.
Villa have been under relentless pressure, but are struggling to get out of their half. Wesley’s hold-up play, in particular, could be better.
Liverpool counter at pace.
Mane cuts the ball across the box to the onrushing Salah, but the Egyptian uncharacteristically balloons his first-time attempt well over.
Wesley concedes a free-kick, while challenging for the ball with Lovren, showing his immense frustration after the whistle blows.
The 22-year-old Brazilian forward has cut an isolated figure for much of this first half and has struggled to have any impact.
HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 1-0 LIVERPOOL
So half-time and Villa are ahead.
Their lead looked increasingly tenuous as the half developed though, with a Roberto Firmino goal ruled out by the tightest of offside calls.
Liverpool have not been at their best and have missed Fabinho’s creativity and presence in midfield.
However, Villa struggled to contain them at times during that first half. The hosts are bound to tire as the match progresses, so it would still be a surprise if Liverpool don’t score.
Indeed, the feel of this game is not too dissimilar to last week’s Liverpool-Tottenham clash.
Villa took an early lead, but like Spurs, you get the impression they are liable to concede under mounting pressure and with their attackers looking increasingly marginalised.
🕓 Liverpool & Man City are trailing at half-time on the same day in @premierleague for the first time since May 1, 2016
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) November 2, 2019
🕔 Both teams went on to lose that day (@LFC against Swansea & @ManCity against Southampton) pic.twitter.com/jtL1TyEk8o
The second half has begun…
Some clarification on that Firmino decision.
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino was flagged offside before putting the ball in the net against Aston Villa and the decision was confirmed by VAR
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2019
The red line signifies Firmino and was aligned to his armpit, which was marginally ahead of the last Villa defender#AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/a2OnNWnz2E
Firmino plays it across the box to Wijnaldum, but the Dutch midfielder’s shot is straight at Heaton.
Moments later, Liverpool break again, and this time Mane’s shot from distance is too close to the Villa goalkeeper.
Liverpool break as Mings lunges at a through pass, but misses it.
Henderson has good options, but his final pass is poor, and the chance is gone.
Liverpool break again.
This time, Salah tries to make the difference, but his shot from distance is woefully off target.
You get the sense Liverpool might benefit from a substitution. They haven’t made the greatest of starts to the second half, and could do with some freshening up.
Chance for Liverpool!
Alexander-Arnold produces an excellent hanging cross.
However, Heaton gets his body in the way of Mane’s header from a tight angle.
It’s all Liverpool at the moment.
The match is now being played almost exclusively in Villa’s half.
As I type, Robertson crosses for Salah, whose header from a tight angle is off target.
Liverpool have made a double change with 25 minutes left.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Origi replace Salah and Wijnaldum.
Oxlade-Chamberlain nearly makes an immediate impact — two of his powerful strikes from the edge of the area require last-ditch blocks.
Alexander-Arnold produces another dangerous cross that Heaton has to parry away for a corner.
Moments later, from a set piece, Origi’s shot on the turn goes well over the bar.
Meanwhile, Man City have equalised against Southampton through Sergio Aguero.
Villa have now made two changes in quick succession.
Ireland’s Conor Hourihane is on in place of Douglas Luiz, while shortly before that, El Mohamady replaced Guilbert.
As I type, Firmino crosses for Lallana, who can’t quite properly connect with his finish and it goes well off target.
Big chance for Villa on the counter-attack.
The hosts have an overlap — Trézéguet plays it to Targett whose subsequent cut back is desperately cleared by Liverpool.
Moments later, El Ghazi tries to pick out Trézéguet with a through pass, but Alexander-Arnold does well to get back and intercept.
Alexander-Arnold takes it past Hourihane.
His subsequent left-footed shot from the edge of the box goes just the wrong side of the post.
Potentially big news in the title race!
Kyle Walker has made it Man City 2-1 Southampton.
ASTON VILLA 1-1 LIVERPOOL (ROBERTSON 87)
Mane produces a perfectly weighted cross to the back post that Robertson heads powerfully home.
Can Liverpool find a winner in the dying minutes?
Another dangerous cross by Mane.
El Mohamady heads it behind for a corner.
Moments later, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross is headed wide by Lovren.
Liverpool have a free kick deep into stoppage time after Oxlade-Chamberlain is taken down…
We are two minutes into five minutes of stoppage time.
Alexander-Arnold’s free kick is deflected over for a corner…
LIVERPOOL 2-1 ASTON VILLA (MANE 94)
Incredible stuff!
It’s a simple goal in the end, as Mane heads home Alexander-Arnold’s corner amid some dodgy Villa marking.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-1 ASTON VILLA
35 - Sadio Mane scored the 35th 90th-minute winning goal by Liverpool in the Premier League, 10 more than any other side in the competition's history; five of those have come since the start of last season, more than any other team. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/xQ9C5H6izh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2019
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
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