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

Liverpool travel to Aston Villa looking to keep their Premier League hopes alive after dropped points at home to Tottenham last weekend.

It also sees Reds legend Steven Gerrard meet Jurgen Klopp, with his side searching for momentum to carry into next season, which will be his first full campaign in charge since joining from Rangers. Villa enter the game in form after a convincing win over Burnley with goals from Danny Ings, Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins. Luis Diaz’s deflected strike was only enough for a point at Anfield against Spurs, with Man City running riot against Newcastle to open up a three-point gap at the top of the Premier League.

“They’re a world-class team, arguably the best in the world right now and we’re well aware of the challenge,” Gerrard said when discussing facing his former team. “I’ve spoken many times about how I respect the coach and the coaching staff there. But you either fear that or you put your shoulders back and try to take it on. Every team on the planet has areas or situations in a game where you can hurt them.”

Follow build-up, team news and live updates from Villa Park below:

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

• Kick off at 8pm, live on Sky Sports

• 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

Aston Villa FC 1 - 2 Liverpool FC

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:58 , Michael Jones

How crucial will Sadio Mane’s winning goal prove to be at the end of the season?

Full-time: Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:55 , Michael Jones

90+4 mins: Liverpool hold on and take all three points! Their run for the Premier League title is still alive as they draw level on points with Manchester City once again. They remain in second place though as City have a better goal difference.

Aston Villa gave the Reds a difficult night but Sadio Mane’s goal was enough to see them leave on the wrong side of the result.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:52 , Michael Jones

90+2 mins: Virgil Van Dijk nips in front of Danny Ings as the ball is chipped into the Liverpool box. He turns it behind for a corner that Douglas Luiz curls into the middle. Emi Buendia wins it in the air but guides his headed high and wide!

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:51 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play. There’s a little bit of nervous tension surrounding Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp is very animated on the sidelines.

Naby Keita takes a knock and is told to recover on the side of the pitch by the referee.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:46 , Michael Jones

86 mins: Disallowed goal! Emi Buendia brings the ball through the middle of the pitch and flicks it over the top of the Liverpool defence. Danny Ings sprints in behind, brings the ball down and drills it low into the far bottom corner. It’s a superb finish but it won’t count as Ings strayed offside as the ball came over to him.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:43 , Michael Jones

83 mins: Close! Aston Villa clear a Liverpool corner but the ball drops nicely for Naby Keita to have a go from range. He strikes his effort well but there’s too much swerve of the shot and it flies wide of the right hanf post.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:41 , Michael Jones

80 mins: Ollie Watkins gets in a tussle with Virgil Van Dijk and trips. He seems to land awkwardly and pick up a slight niggle. Steven Gerrard was about to make a change and bring off Danny Ings but instead Watkins is the one replaced with Bertrand Traore.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:36 , Michael Jones

77 mins: Close! Liverpool win a corner that Kostas Tsimikas takes. He sends an outswinging cross into the box and finds Joel Matip whose headed is gently knocked into the hands of Emi Martinez.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:34 , Michael Jones

74 mins: Chance! Salah links up with Alexander-Arnold on the right side of the box. The Liverpool right-back fizzes a pass into the six-yard box and almost picks out Sadio Mane but the pass is blocked. The ball rolls back to Alexander-Arnold whose second attempt at a cross is cleared away as well.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:32 , Michael Jones

71 mins: Mo Salah is getting a run out and comes on to replace Luis Diaz for the last 20 minutes or so. He’s straight into the action as the ball is chipped over the top from a throw in. Salah sprints into the box and shoves Konsa away from the ball. He tries to take it around the goalkeeper but his touch sends the ball too close to Martinez and he manages to grab hold of the ball.

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

21:29 , Michael Jones

68 mins: Save! Alisson comes to the rescue for Liverpool after Danny Ings is played in behind. Liverpool’s back line is all at sea as Ings makes his run behind Van Dijk. He collects the ball but knocks it heavily into the box. Alisson comes flying off his line and when Ings gets to the ball the goalkeeper is on top of him. He launches himself at the ball and smothers it as Ings takes his shot!

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool (Mane, 65’)⚽️

21:25 , Michael Jones

65 mins: Liverpool are in front! Sadio Mane wins the ball in midfield and the visitors work it out to the left wing. Luis Diaz drives down the wing and whips a cross into the box. Mane holds himself onside, threads the gap in between the two centre-backs and guides his header into the far bottom corner!

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:22 , Michael Jones

63 mins: Marvelous Nakamba is replaced with Carney Chukwuemeka for Aston Villa. No sign of Mo Salah for Liverpool but Thiago Alcantara comes on to replace Curtis Jones.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:20 , Michael Jones

60 mins: Nearly! Villa win a free kick deep in their own half and quickly fire it over to Matty Cash bombing down the right wing. He whips a cross into the middle where Ollie Watkins is hovering but Joel Matip nips in front of the forward and hoofs the ball clear.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:17 , Michael Jones

57 mins: Sadio Mane wins a free kick for Liverpool after he’s brought down by John McGinn. Trent Alexander-Arnold has another chance to shoot. This time he goes for the opposite side of goal but gets it wrong and scuffs the effort well wide of the far post.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:15 , Michael Jones

54 mins: Mo Salah is warming up on the sidelines which elicits some cheers from the travelling Liverpool fans. Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane link up to work the ball through the middle of the pitch. Mane knocks it across to Alexander-Arnold who dinks a pass into the box for Luis Diaz but Ezri Konsa intercepts and clears.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:13 , Michael Jones

51 mins: Chances! Philippe Coutinho weaves around Virgil Van Dijk and looks to shoot but the Liverpool defender recovers in time to block the ball. Aston Villa comes agains though and slide the ball into the right side of the area where Ollie Watkins arrives. His first touch is too heavy and that allows Kostas Tsimikas to get over and poke the ball away from him.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:08 , Michael Jones

48 mins: Close! Trent Alexander-Arnold sets the ball down for the free kick. He’s aiming for the top left hand corner and curls his effort over the head of Ollie Watkins in the Villa wall. Emi Martinez shuffles across to cover the ball but it curls too much and goes wide of the post!

Second half: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

21:06 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:57 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:54 , Michael Jones

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.

Half-time: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:49 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:45 , Michael Jones

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

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:44 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:40 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:36 , Michael Jones

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!

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:34 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:30 , Michael Jones

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.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:27 , Michael Jones

27 mins: Fabinho takes too long on the ball and is robbed by Philippe Coutinho. He slides Danny Ings into the left side of the box and he holds it up long enough for help to arrive.

Villa win a throw in anf Fabinho goes down off the ball. Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara have been sent out to warm up. Fabinho may not continue here, it looks like a hamstring problem.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:24 , Michael Jones

24 mins: It should be 2-1 to Villa. The cross comes in from the left wing and Danny Ings meets it in the air. He whips his head onto the ball and is looking for the near top corner but achingly sends the ball over the bar.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:23 , Michael Jones

21 mins: Mistake! Alisson Becker gets away with one. He jogs out of his own area to receive a backpass but sends his own pass straight to Ollie Watkins. Watkins isn’t expecting the ball and his first touch is poor. Alisson scrambles over to the loose ball and manages to turn it around the striker to one of his teammates. Nervous times for the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:20 , Michael Jones

18 mins: Ezri Konsa fouls Diogo Jota over near the left hand corner flag. Liverpool’s free kick is whipped into the box but Villa deal with it without too much trouble.

Chance! Liverpool are starting to find some rhythm. They pass the ball around the middle of the pitch and guide it out to Tsimikas on the left side. He curls a cross into the box and perfectly picks out Sadio Mane whose headed effort goes narrowly wide of the far post!

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:16 , Michael Jones

15 mins: Watkins and Matip tussle to get to an aerial ball and the Aston Villa striker lands awkwardly on his own wrist. He gives it a rub and a shake and will be fine to play on.

Luis Diaz makes a run into the right side of the penalty area as Virgil Van Dijk floats a diagonal pass over the top. Lucas Digne sneaks in front of the Liverpool winger and knocks the ball clear.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:13 , Michael Jones

12 mins: Liverpool are very unstable at the back. Cash and Luiz combine on the right wing to move the ball alongside the Reds’ penalty area. Cash darts inside off the ball and Luiz chips it back to him. He squares it into the six-yard box where Joel Matip scuffs away a clearance. The ball drops for Lucas Digne who has a shy at goal but spoons his effort high and wide.

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool

20:10 , Michael Jones

9 mins: There was a quick VAR check to make sure no fouls were committed in the Villa box. There wasn’t so Liverpool’s goal stands and they’re back on level terms.

John McGinn floats a pass over to the right side for Ollie Watkins to chase down. He collects the ball and whips a cross into the box but fires it straight into the hands of Alisson.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liverpool (Matip, 6’)⚽️

20:06 , Michael Jones

6 mins: Early equaliser! Liverpool win a free kick over on the right side of the pitch. Trent Alexander-Arnold swings the set piece into the box where Tyrone Mings and Marvelous Nakamba make a mess of their attempted clearance. Diogo Jota manages to squeeze it over to Virgil Van Dijk who shoots. Emi Martinez gets a hand to deflect the shot but knocks it down for Joel Matip to tap home from close range!

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 0 Liverpool (Douglas Luiz, 3’)⚽️

20:03 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Early breakthrough! Ollie Watkins is played into the left side of the penalty area and blasts a shot at goal which Alisson keeps out. He parries the ball away but Villa quickly recover it. Matty Cash swings a cross in from the right that Danny Ings glances on to John McGinn. McGinn gives it to Lucas Digne whose cross picks out Douglas Luiz in the middle of the box. He fires a header at goal that Alisson palms down but the ball comes loose and Luis is there to smoke it home from inside the six-yard box!

Kick off: Aston Villa 0 - 0 Liverpool

20:01 , Michael Jones

Liverpool get the match started at Villa Park. The ball is knocked back to Joel Matip who sends a hopeful diagonal pass over to the left wing. Sadio Mane manages to keep the ball in play but can’t pick out Kostas Tsimikas and sends his own pass over the touchline.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:56 , Michael Jones

This is a must win game for Liverpool. Manchester City are three points ahead of them and have a better goal difference. The players make their way out onto the pitch at Villa Park.

Gerrard on facing Liverpool

19:51 , Michael Jones

Steven Gerrard spoke about what it is like to come up against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

“They’re a world-class team, arguably the best in the world right now and we’re well aware of the challenge,” he said. “I’ve spoken many times about how I respect the coach and the coaching staff there.

“But you either fear that or you put your shoulders back and try to take it on. Every team on the planet has areas or situations in a game where you can hurt them.”

Jurgen Klopp vows to ‘delete bad things’ from Liverpool draw against Tottenham

19:48 , Michael Jones

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists his side will “delete the bad things” from Saturday’s draw with Tottenham and focus on what they did well.

The Reds came from behind to secure a point at home to Spurs – the first time they had not won at Anfield in the Premier League since October – but a lot of their attacking play was far from what Klopp wanted to see.

His side swung in 46 crosses in the game, which is way above their normal number, as they chased the win which would have maintained the pressure on league leaders Manchester City.

Klopp was unhappy with the way his players deviated from their tried-and-trusted methods but believes they will have no problem hitting the reset switch for Tuesday’s trip to Aston Villa.

Jurgen Klopp vows to ‘delete bad things’ from draw against Tottenham

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:45 , Michael Jones

Mo Salah has scored 30 goals for Liverpool in all competitions this campaign, one short of his total for the Reds last season. However, he has failed to score in 11 of his last 12 club appearances.

If he scores at Villa Park, Salah will become only the second player in the club’s history to net in four consecutive league matches versus Villa after Roger Hunt, who did so between 1963 and 1965.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:42 , Michael Jones

Villa boss Steven Gerrard scored 186 goals in 710 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions (1998-2015).

Only Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher played more games for the Reds, while only Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell scored more times for the club.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:38 , Michael Jones

Danny Ings is aiming to become the first player since Romelu Lukaku in 2017-18 to score against three former sides in a single Premier League season.

Pep Guardiola’s Liverpool comments reveal the sharp edge to ‘friendly’ Manchester City rivalry

19:35 , Michael Jones

If it feels like it was only a few weeks ago that everyone was describing Manchester City and Liverpool’s rivalry as friendly – perhaps even too friendly – that’s because it was.

It is just about a month since the 2-2 draw at the Etihad ended with hugs between the clubs’ respective Brazilian contingents, Kevin De Bruyne revealing he chats to Virgil van Dijk on the school run, and one of the most overenthusiastic high fives ever seen between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

A lot has changed in the short time since – Liverpool have reached the Champions League final, for starters, while City have opened up a three-point gap on their rivals at the top of the Premier League following Sunday’s 5-0 win over Newcastle United – but the public-facing element of the rivalry had remained as good-natured as ever.

Pep Guardiola’s Liverpool comments reveal the sharper edge to this ‘friendly’ rivalry

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:30 , Michael Jones

Liverpool have won all 18 games this season against teams starting the day in the bottom half of the table, by an aggregate score of 52-4.

No team in Premier League history has ever won 100% of their games against bottom half sides in a single campaign, with Liverpool’s current tally of 18 wins the joint-most along with Manchester United in 2006-07.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:27 , Michael Jones

Liverpool could equal their club record of 22 clean sheets in a Premier League season, set in 2005-06.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:23 , Michael Jones

Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Leicester at the King Power Stadium is the only away league match in which they have failed to score this season.

Only twice before in their history have they scored more away league goals in a season than the 41 they have netted in this campaign: 42 in 1946-47 and 48 in 2013-14.

Antonio Conte accuses Jurgen Klopp of looking for excuses after draw with Tottenham

19:20 , Michael Jones

Antonio Conte says Jurgen Klopp was looking for an “excuse or an alibi” when he criticised Tottenham Hotspur’s style of play following their 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Spurs were more than worthy of their point after they put in a resilient defensive display to stop the title chasers and they could easily have left Anfield with all three points had they been more clinical in attack.

Klopp, clearly frustrated at dropping two points in the title race, said afterwards: “I don’t like this kind of football, but that is my problem. I cannot coach it.”

Conte claimed his counterpart was trying to find excuses and should have kept his focus on his own team.

“Jurgen is an intelligent person, very clever,” the Italian said.

Antonio Conte accuses Jurgen Klopp of looking for excuses after draw with Tottenham

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

19:16 , Michael Jones

Liverpool are the only side in Europe’s top five leagues to boast an unbeaten league record in 2022 with 13 wins and three draws.

The Reds have only trailed for a total of 51 minutes in their top-flight matches this year: 16 vs Norwich City, 17 vs Manchester City and 18 vs Tottenham.

The teams arrive at Villa Park

19:13 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa and Liverpool have arrived ahead of kick off at 8pm. Jurgen Klopp has made a few changes to his starting XI, will that backfire on the Reds tonight?

Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Head-to-head

19:10 , Michael Jones

Liverpool have won seven of the last eight league meetings between the sides with the exception being their 7-2 away defeat last season.

Villa are aiming to beat Liverpool in consecutive home league games for the first time since February 1998. This fixture has produced 20 away wins in the Premier League, second only to Manchester City’s clashes with Manchester United (21).

Aston Villa vs Liverpool team changes

19:05 , Michael Jones

Steven Gerrard makes two changes to the Aston Villa team that defeated Burnley last time out. Marvelous Nakamba and Philippe Coutinho come in to replace Calum Chambers and Emiliano Buendia.

With the FA Cup final coming up on Saturday Jurgen Klopp swaps out a few of his first choice players. Andy Robertson is replaced with Kostas Tsimikas at left-back and Joel Matip returns alongside Virgil van Dijk ahead of Ibrahima Konate. Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson make way for Naby Keita and Curtis Jones while Mo Salah is replaced with Diogo Jota in the forward line.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool line-ups

19:01 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Nakamba, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Coutinho, Watkins, Ings

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Keita, Jones, Diaz, Jota, Mane

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

18:57 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa have taken seven points from their last three league matches, having lost their previous four in a row. They are aiming to win three consecutive league games for only the third time in nine top-flight seasons.

Can Aston Villa finish in the top 10?

18:54 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa’s aim for their last three league fixtures this season will be to secure a top 10 finish. They are currently 11th in the table trailing Crystal Palace by one point.

Manager Steven Gerrard was asked what it would feel like to end the season in the top half of the table and he said:

“It would be a satisfactory end to the season considering where we were when we took the job – 16th in the league and a couple of points above relegation.

“The first remit was to move the team into a safe place, first and foremost. Now we’re in a place with four games left where there’s a possibility to finish in the top ten and I think that would be a huge positive considering the club hasn’t done it for a decade.

“That would give us a positive base to go and have a real strong pre-season from.”

What next for European football at Uefa’s moment of truth?

18:50 , Michael Jones

To get a proper sense of just how distorted European football is, you only have to consider the consequences from the final day of last season’s Premier League. It had seemed a straight race between Leicester City and Chelsea for that fourth Champions League spot. It really wasn’t so simple.

Had Leicester managed to qualify, they would have been guaranteed at least €1.5m (£1.28m). Chelsea’s qualification, however, guaranteed them at least €30m.

That difference is so instructive on how football has got to this point, and where it is going. It is all based on the way Uefa’s prize money works, which has a cumulative effect depending on recent performance in Europe. These are the notorious “coefficients”, on which many clubs want to base qualification.

It obviously affords an inherent structural advantage for the big clubs. It also poses a structural question for the whole game.

How is any club supposed to catch up when that is the chasm? How are we ever supposed to return to anything like competitive balance?

What next for European football at Uefa’s moment of truth?

What are Uefa’s new Champions League changes?

18:45 , Michael Jones

Uefa’s executive committee have confirmed the most significant changes to the Champions League in a generation.

Last April, days before the failed European Super League plot was launched, Uefa announced reforms to the Champions League had received unanimous backing from the European Club Association and Uefa Club Competitions Committee.

It confirmed plans to change the format of European football’s top club competition from 2024, giving the tournament its first new look in 20 years. The proposals were not met with the same level of backlash that greeted the Super League plans but have still been criticised by leading fans’ groups, including the Football Supporters’ Association [FSA].

What are Uefa’s new Champions League changes?

Premier League could get fifth Champions League spot as Uefa scrap coefficient plan

18:40 , Michael Jones

In other Premier League related news Uefa have scrapped their coefficient plan and from 2024 will award two Champions League places to countries whose clubs collectively performed best in Europe the previous campaign.

An agreement has been reached in Vienna between Uefa and the European Club Association on access to the new-look competition.

The proposal to award two places in the new 36-team league phase based on individual clubs’ European performances over five years has been scrapped, with critics arguing it created a safety net for failing big clubs and a Super League by default.

Instead two places will be awarded to clubs from the countries who performed best in Europe in the previous term.

If applied to next season that would mean the Premier League in England gaining an extra spot, along with the top flight in the Netherlands.

Premier League could get fifth Champions League spot as Uefa scrap coefficient plan

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

18:35 , Michael Jones

Liverpool are one shy of recording 100 victories over Aston Villa in all competitions.

The Reds have won more league points (313, converting to three points for a win) and scored more league goals (332) against Villa than any other club.

Klopp on the title race

18:30 , Michael Jones

Back to tonight’s game now and Jurgen Klopp was asked whether Liverpool’s draw against Tottenham had put them out of the title race. He replied:

“It is clear that it is not over, whatever happened, because we both have three games to play. And my concern is actually: how can we win our games?

“We have absolutely no hand in how City will play their games. But before they are played I think we should not add on points; we don’t do that and I’m pretty sure City are not doing that. [Until] it’s not reachable anymore, why should we stop believing? That’s what we do.”

Erling Haaland: Man City’s newest star who solves football’s most difficult problem

18:25 , Michael Jones

Pep Guardiola said last year that scoring goals is the “most difficult thing in football”.

It is no wonder then that the Manchester City manager was so keen to bring Erling Haaland to the Etihad Stadium, as the Norwegian has made the task look easy throughout his young career.

An agreement has been reached in principle for Haaland to join City from 1 July after the Premier League champions triggered his 60million euros (£51.25million) release clause from Borussia Dortmund.

Erling Haaland: Man City’s newest star who solves football’s most difficult problem

Man City confirm agreement for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland

18:22 , Michael Jones

The big news coming out of the Premier League today is that Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland has signed for Manchester City. With the title race between City and Liverpool so close this season, Haaland’s arrival will give the Manchester club a big boost for next year.

The free-scoring striker will move to the Etihad at the end of the season, after the Premier League champions activated his €60m (£51.3m) release clause from the Bundesliga club.

A club statement read: “Manchester City can confirm we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the club on 1st July 2022. The transfer remains subject to the club finalising terms with the player.”

Man City confirm agreement for Erling Haaland transfer from Borussia Dortmund

Erling Haaland follows in father’s footsteps in making Man City move

18:18 , Michael Jones

Erling Haaland will become the latest man to follow in the footsteps of his father when he plays in the English top flight.

The 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker’s move to Manchester City will unleash his blossoming talent on the Premier League, where his dad Alf-Inge played for Nottingham Forest, Leeds and City during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Here we take a look at some of the men who have previously achieved similar feats – beginning with another pair who both briefly represented City.

Erling Haaland follows in father’s footsteps in making Manchester City move

Gerrard on Villa’s recent results

18:15 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard says that the club’s recent run of defeats was tough to handle but that he always had confidence that his players could turn it around. Speaking in the pre-match press conference he said:

“I know where the team’s at and I know that we’re capable of winning football matches. I know we’re capable of going on runs to recover situations – we did it when we initially came in.

“We didn’t get too carried away when we were winning games on the spin, and at the same time, when you go on a tough run and suffer a few bumps it’s important to stick together and have belief in your players.

“It was tough – no one wants to lose four matches, but I had confidence that with the fixtures we had coming up we could put it right and recover our situation.

“The players have been outstanding in the last three games – not just with the results but the performances as well.”

Recent results for Aston Villa and Liverpool

18:10 , Michael Jones

Since the start of the year Aston Villa have been all over the place in terms of form. They’ve won games they probably should have lost and lost games they should have won. March to April was a tough time for Steven Gerrard’s men as they went five games without a win with four of those ending in defeat. However, they seem to have turned that around after back-to-back wins against Norwich and Burnley has put them back on the verge of the top 10.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s six game winning run across all competitions came to an end last time out when they drew 1-1 with Tottenham. Son Heung-Min put Spurs ahead in a game dominated by the Reds but they responded through Luis Diaz’s strike 15 minutes before the end of the second half. Liverpool couldn’t get through Tottenham’s defence a second time though and had to settle for a point which keeps them within touching distance of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Early team news for Aston Villa vs Liverpool

18:05 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey misses out again after being ruled out due to the groin injury that also caused him to miss the win over Burnley.

Leon Bailey and Kortney Hause remain on the sidelines, while Philippe Coutinho may feature against his former club.

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino could make his return after six matches out with a foot injury and Jurgen Klopp may decide to make changes ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures - Manchester City or Liverpool?

18:00 , Michael Jones

The Premier League season is approaching its end but the title race remains a close run thing.

Manchester City, the reigning champions, opened up a three-point lead at the top of the table at the weekend but still need another seven to ensure their title defence is successful.

Liverpool, the challengers, put up an extraordinary run of 13 wins from 14 games to close the gap on City but dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur that could prove fatal to their title hopes.

Both sides have three games remaining and both play away from home in midweek, taking trips to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa respectively.

With the title set to be decided either this weekend or next, The Independent has analysed the final part of their run-ins:

Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures - Manchester City or Liverpool?

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

17:30 , Michael Jones

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to Villa Park needing to pick up three points to draw level with league leaders Manchester City and keep their title hopes alive.

The Reds stumbled last time out, only managing a 1-1 draw against a resolute Tottenham side. That draw dropped them three points behind City and they’re now relying on Pep Guardiola’s men dropping points themselves with only three fixtures left in the season.

Ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may have a big role to play in deciding where the Premier League trophy ends up. Now the manager of Aston Villa, Gerrard and his men face both Liverpool and Man City in the closing stages of the season. A victory for Villa tonight could effectively end Liverpool’s title challenge but if they lose and then defeat City on the final day of the season the trophy may end up at Anfield.

Those permutations won’t factor into Gerrard’s mindset though. He’s been disappointed with Villa’s indifferent form since the turn of the year but consecutive victories in their last two games has put the midlands team on the verge of finishing in the top 10.