Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

Live updates from Villa Park as Steven Gerrard meets Jurgen Klopp in tonight’s Premier League action

'Gerrard can be my successor' - Klopp backs Villa boss for Anfield return

A slip from Steven Gerrard may have cost Liverpool a Premier League title. A team of his will not do likewise this year, valiantly as Aston Villa tried. For an hour, Manchester City seemed to be closing in on the crown. Liverpool looked like dropping points for the second successive game.

But there was no slip-up after May’s great catalyst intervened. Liverpool have trailed in all three matches in the month, but their powers of recovery have been aided by Luis Diaz. The January signing was the architect of Sadio Mane’s eighth goal in his last 10 starts. The Senegalese got a crucial winner at Villa Park in a title-winning campaign in 2019: this, earlier in the game but far later in the season, has the potential to be as crucial.

In an instant, Jurgen Klopp was rewarded for benching Mohamed Salah, whose goal drought, penalties and matches against Manchester United aside, stretches back to February. If Klopp picked on form, he was vindicated on a day when Liverpool struggled to reach their best as they were buffeted by waves of Villa attacks.

There was a sense that, 59 games into a marathon season, Liverpool’s strenuous efforts were finally catching up with them. They were stretched as Villa were the sharper side in the first half, but they have a resilience and Klopp has an array of formidable forwards and the three who started combined for a decider that felt further testament to the relentlessness of Diaz.

Follow reaction from Villa Park below:

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

• Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Nakamba, Luiz; Coutinho; Ings, Watkins
• Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Keita, Fabinho, Jones; Diaz, Jota, Mane
• 3’ - GOAL! Douglas Luiz scores at the second attempt
• 6’ - GOAL! Joel Matip immediately equalises from close range
• 65’ - GOAL! Sadio Mane flicks in a header to put Reds ahead
• Match report: Mane earns Liverpool comeback win at Villa to keep title fight alive

[10 May 2022 21:06 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

Kick off: Aston Villa get the game back underway with a long ball that skips through to Alisson in Liverpool’s goal. The Reds work the ball down the left wing and slide it inside to Curtis Jones. He spins towards goal and gets clipped just outside the box.

[10 May 2022 20:57 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

This is the first time both Aston Villa and Liverpool have scored against each other inside the first six minutes of a Premier League meeting.

[10 May 2022 20:54 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

A blistering start to the match at Villa Park saw Douglas Luiz send Aston Villa in front with three minutes gone before Joel Matip equalised less than two minutes later.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[10 May 2022 20:49 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

45+3 mins: Curtis Jones has another go at goal but curls this effort over the crossbar. The first half ends with a Liverpool corner that Alexander-Arnold whips into the penalty area but Matty Cash is covering the near post and keeps it away from Sadio Mane.

All square as the teams head into the break.

[10 May 2022 20:45 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

45 mins: Three added minutes to play at Villa Park.

[10 May 2022 20:44 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

42 mins: Luis Diaz weaves and tricks his way down the right wing and skips away from Danny Ings. He pulls the ball inside but gives it to Marvelous Nakamba. Nakamba misplaces his pass into the midfield and Curtis Jones takes over. He drives towards the edge of the box, rolls the ball onto his right foot and curls a shot towards the bottom corner only for Emi Martinez to leap across and cling onto the ball.

[10 May 2022 20:40 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

39 mins: Lucas Digne leaps across Luis Diaz and elbows the Liverpool winger on the chin with his leading arm. Diaz stays down as the ball bounces out for a Liverpool throw in.

[10 May 2022 20:36 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

36 mins: What a chance for Liverpool! This is probably the first time that Trent Alexander-Arnold has been allowed time on space high up the pitch. He receives the ball and finds Naby Keita waiting on the edge of the six-yard box, smack bang in the middle of the box. Alexander-Arnold’s pass is decent but Keita misses the ball as he tries to turn it towards goal!

[10 May 2022 20:34 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

33 mins: Disallowed goal! A Liverpool throw comes to Diogo Jota who passes it up to Sadio Mane. He guides the ball over to Naby Keita who threads it into the box for Luis Diaz. Diaz has made a run in behind the Villa defence. He draws Martinez off his line then squares it over to Mane who taps home. Diaz was clearly offside in the build-up though and a very quick VAR check confirms the assistant referee’s decision.

[10 May 2022 20:30 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

30 mins: Fabinho isn’t going to play on. He walks off the pitch and is going to be replaced with Jordan Henderson. Aston Villa’s throw in is won by the visitors who are awarded a free kick when Lucas Digne holds back Sadio Mane.