Liverpool still chasing City like 'mad' in title race

Manager Klopp says team knows they’ve to win every match after 2-1 win over Villa

BIRMINGHAM:

Liverpool are still "chasing like mad" after Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, said Jurgen Klopp after coming from a goal down to beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Tuesday.

The top two are now level on points, but City stay top on goal difference and have a game in hand away to Wolves on Wednesday.

Liverpool could ill-afford another slip up after being held 1-1 at home by Tottenham at the weekend and got off to the worst possible start when Douglas Luiz fired Villa in front after three minutes.

But Joel Matip quickly levelled and Sadio Mane's fine header 25 minutes from time kept the Reds in contention for a historic quadruple of trophies.

"We are still chasing like mad," said Klopp. "We just know we have to win, that didn't change and now we have to recover to play the FA Cup final. There is no mercy."

However, victory came at a cost as Fabinho limped off with a muscle injury that makes him a major doubt for both Saturday's FA Cup final and the Champions League final against Real Madrid on May 28.

"He felt a muscle, not too much," added Klopp. "He is quite positive but I'm not sure what I can make of that to be honest."

With one eye on Wembley, Klopp rolled the dice with his team selection as Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alcantara were left on the bench, while there was no place in the squad for Andy Robertson.

The visitors looked like a much-changed side as Villa sprang out of the traps and caught them cold.

Alisson Becker had already denied Ollie Watkins by the time Steven Gerrard's men took the lead on three minutes.

Luiz's header was parried by Alisson, but only back into the path of his Brazilian international teammate to hammer the rebound high into the net.

Villa won this fixture 7-2 last season, but Liverpool this time bounced straight back from the early blow of conceding.

The hosts did not deal with a free-kick into the box and the ball eventually broke for Virgil van Dijk to square for his centre-back partner Matip to apply the finishing touch.

Chances continued to come at both ends in a frantic first half.

Mane headed inches wide and Naby Keita missed his kick with the goal gaping for Liverpool, while, at the other end, Danny Ings just failed to keep his header down from Lucas Digne's inviting cross.

Liverpool's heavy schedule began to show physically when Fabinho limped off with a hamstring injury midway through the first half.

However, Liverpool went through the gears in the second period to show the gulf in class between the sides.

"We've got to take the big moments we created in the game," said Gerrard. "I'm frustrated we didn't score more than once.