![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ManeGoalVillaNov2019_large.jpg\")
Sadio Man\u00e9 rescued Liverpool as the Reds\u2019 late show at Aston Villa maintained their title charge.<\/p>\nSadio Man\u00e9 rescued Liverpool as the Reds\u2019 late show at Aston Villa maintained their title charge.<\/p>\n
The forward\u2019s stoppage-time header earned a thrilling 2-1 win just as Jurgen Klopp\u2019s side looked like losing their unbeaten Premier League record.<\/p>\n
Andrew Robertson had equalized with just three minutes left to cancel out Trezeguet\u2019s first-half opener for the hosts.<\/p>\n
Klopp saw his unbeaten side maintain their six-point lead at the top after Manchester City\u2019s 2-1 comeback win over Southampton.<\/p>\n
The top two face off at Anfield next Sunday after they both narrowly avoided upsets on Saturday.<\/p>\n
VAR had earlier created more controversy when Roberto Firmino\u2019s first-half strike was ruled offside, forcing the Premier League to clarify the decision at half-time.<\/p>\n
Liverpool\u2019s last visit to Villa Park saw them thump Villa 6-0 with the hosts waving the white flag en route to an embarrassing relegation three years ago.<\/p>\n
But they faced a different, resurgent Villa this time, underlined by the way Anwar El Ghazi bundled his way through to fire at Alisson Becker after 31 seconds.<\/p>\n
The hosts pressed and hassled Liverpool in the first half but the visitors, who had been subdued, should have opened the scoring after 16 minutes.<\/p>\n
The Reds had barely threatened yet carved out the best early chance when, from Jordan Henderson\u2019s lobbed cross, a stretching Mane headed wide from six yards.<\/p>\n
A minute later Tom Heaton pushed away Mohamed Salah\u2019s angled volley, only for Villa to take the lead after 21 minutes.<\/p>\n
Mane brought down John McGinn and the midfielder\u2019s delicious free-kick caught Liverpool cold to allow Trezeguet to volley in at the far post.<\/p>\n
Trent Alexander-Arnold\u2019s shot deflected over in response before Liverpool looked to have leveled just before the half hour.<\/p>\n
Man\u00e9\u2019s cross was tapped in by Firmino but he was flagged offside \u2013 and although VAR replays suggested the Brazilian was onside the decision stood.<\/p>\n
At the break the Premier League stated on Twitter Firmino\u2019s armpit was ahead of Tyrone Mings.<\/p>\n
Salah ballooned over two minutes before half-time as Liverpool tried to raise their game after the interval.<\/p>\n
Georginio Wijnaldum and Man\u00e9 shot at Heaton but the Reds\u2019 attack struggled to find the same wavelength.<\/p>\n
Henderson\u2019s poor ball snuffed out a breakaway chance and Salah\u2019s wayward effort showed their lack of cutting edge at Villa Park.<\/p>\n
Heaton blocked from Mane at the far post and Salah was withdrawn with Wijnaldum with 25 minutes left.<\/p>\n
Liverpool continued to press and Adam Lallana blew a golden chance to level 18 minutes from time.<\/p>\n
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain\u2019s introduction had added extra impetus and his cross found the onrushing Lallana, only for the unmarked midfielder to mishit his shot wide from eight yards.<\/p>\n
Battling Villa refused to buckle, putting their bodies on the line to keep Liverpool at bay \u2013 until the 87th minute.<\/p>\n
Man\u00e9\u2019s deep cross found the unmarked Robertson and the Scot headed in at the far post from close range.<\/p>\n
Then, in the fourth minute of injury time, Man\u00e9 glanced in Alexander-Arnold\u2019s corner to win it.<\/p>\n