VILLA UNBEATEN RUN ENDED BY LIVERPOOL
Aston Villa were on a run of three games without defeat before they faced Liverpool at home in a rescheduled Premier League game at Villa Park on Tuesday night. Steven Gerrard and his players were on a poor run of four straight defeats against West Ham United, Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur before the losing run was halted by the goalless draw at Leicester City towards the end of last month.
The draw with Europa Conference League semifinalists Leicester City preceded the two-game winning run recorded ahead of the Liverpool game. Steven Gerrard and his Aston Villa players ended a five-match winless run with the 1-0 home victory over bottom team Norwich City thanks to the first half strike from Ollie Watkins off the assist from fellow striker Danny Ings. Steven Gerrard and his Villa players then made it two straight wins with the impressive 3-1 win at the home of relegation-threatened Burnley. Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia scored one goal and assisted another goal during the game in addition to further goals from Ings and Watkins, while Ivorian substitute Maxwel Cornet was responsible for the only goal of the game for hosts Burnley.
The three-match unbeaten league run and two-match winning league run from Aston Villa came to an and with the 2-1 loss to Liverpool at home despite the fact that they scored the first goal of the game.
Liverpool came into the game with the aim of getting a win to put pressure on league leaders Manchester City in the race for the title and they were stunned by the opening goal from Brazil international Douglas Luiz inside the first three minutes. Liverpool were behind for just three minutes before Cameroonian defender Joel Matip scored the equaliser on six minutes thus paving the way for Sadio Mane to score the winning goal on 65 minutes.