Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool

Aston Villa pushed high-flying Liverpool all the way but fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat after a pulsating clash at Villa Park.

The Villans opened the scoring after just three minutes courtesy of Douglas Luiz’s second goal of the season, coming in his 100^th Premier League appearance, only for Joel Matip to level matters moments later amid an electric start to proceedings.

And that set the tone for an enthralling clash you could barely take your eyes off as a plethora of chances continued to come at either end.

Yet ultimately it was the Reds who claimed all three points as Sadio Mane glanced home a header in the 65^th minute.

Villa, though, could be proud of their energetic, positive performance, full of heart and desire, as they defended bravely and caused title-chasing Liverpool all sorts of problems in attack.

Defeat ended a three-match unbeaten sequence, which included back-to-back wins, and Villa now head into their final three matches of the campaign – starting with a home encounter against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Philippe Coutinho and Marvelous Nakamba returned to Aston Villa’s starting line-up as head coach Steven Gerrard made two changes from Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Burnley, Emi Buendía and Calum Chambers named among the substitutes.

Amid a fantastic atmosphere, Ollie Watkins was thwarted by Alisson after only three minutes but the Reds goalkeeper was beaten just seconds later, Luiz poking home from close range after his initial header was saved from Lucas Digne’s cross.

Yet the visitors were level three minutes later as Matip converted from a matter of yards out following a goalmouth scramble from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick.

The intensity of the opening quarter was relentless as the game flowed from end to end, Mane heading wide from Konstantinos Tsimikas’ cross in the 19^th minute.

Watkins came close to robbing Alisson of possession outside his penalty area moments later, before Danny Ings headed over the crossbar from John McGinn’s delivery following a well-worked corner routine.

Coutinho came close to a wonder goal in the 33^rd minute, producing an audacious piece of skill to flick the ball over Alexander-Arnold, before playing a one-two with Digne and curling a long-range strike over the crossbar.

Naby Keita fluffed his lines from eight yards out at the other end as both sides went close to adding to the scoreline.

Emi Martínez then comfortably saved from Curtis Jones as a thoroughly entertaining and frenetic first half drew to a close on level terms.

Alexander-Arnold curled a free-kick narrowly off target at the start of the second period before Coutinho and Watkins were both denied by last-ditch challenges as the game continued in much the same fashion.

Gerrard made his first change of the evening just after the hour mark as Nakamba was replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka.

With chances coming at either end, it was Liverpool who took the lead midway through the second half as Mane headed home Luis Diaz’s cross.

As was the nature of the game, Villa, who triumphed 7-2 in last season’s corresponding fixture, created chances to level immediately but Ings was twice denied by the Reds rearguard.

Buendía replaced Coutinho in the 70^th minute before Martínez was out quickly to stop Liverpool substitute Mohamed Salah.

Matty Cash headed off the goal-line prior to Gerrard making his final change of the night, Bertrand Traoré replacing Watkins.

Keita flashed an effort just wide from distance while Ings was denied by Alisson but Villa could not force a late leveller to secure a point they would have been good value for.