The Telegraph
Trent Alexander-Arnold scores stunning winner as Liverpool come from behind against Aston Villa
Watkins goal gives Villa the lead but Firmino has equaliser ruled out for fractional offside decision Salah scores second-half equaliser Alexander-Arnold hits stunning injury time winner in front of watching Gareth Southgate Liverpool’s Anfield hoodoo is finally over, retaining Jurgen Klopp's hopes of Champions League qualification. The outgoing champions' first home win since mid-December and first Anfield goal in open play for 12 hours and 49 minutes was relief enough for Jurgen Klopp. But when Trent Alexander-Arnold smashed in the 91st minute winner to defeat Aston Villa, Klopp could take satisfaction from even more. He had seen his side overcome adverse circumstances to claim a vital victory. That's not happened enough in 2021. Until then, Klopp was facing another afternoon counting the missed chances and cursing the officials for a contentious video assistant referee call. Alexander-Arnold was also struggling to persuade the watching England coach Gareth Southgate that he was back to his best, often losing possession and struggling to find his passing radar. Then the right back delivered when it mattered most, beating Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez with a vicious, dipping strike at The Kop end. Villa looked as capable of winning at that stage, having earlier led after benefitting from Liverpool’s recent run of carelessness at both ends. Until Alexander-Arnold’s decisive strike, the game was symptomatic of Liverpool’s home troubles in 2021, especially in the first half. They were often presented opportunities by Villa, occasionally created some of their own, and when they did beat Emiliano Martinez were again cursing the assistant referee. Villa went ahead from one of their first attacks, aided by slack defending and another error from Alisson Becker. Ollie Watkins, who struck a hat-trick in the reverse fixture last October, met John McGinn’s 43rd minute pass with venom, but the Brazilian would expect to have saved the shot. Liverpool’s chances had piled up after Salah nudged Diogo Jota’s pass wide on 13 minutes, failing to punish Tyrone Mings’ misjudgement. Jota and Firmino should have tested Martinez before the Brazilian thought he had finally ended the goal drought. Tediously, Var took centre stage again, the officials determining Jota was offside in the build-up when the replays looked less conclusive. Liverpool naturally argued. It already felt like a ready-made excuse in the event of Klopp’s side failing to recover in the second half. Fortunately, that could be relegated into a sidebar. Klopp’s side re-emerged after the interval with fresh intent, equalising on 56 minutes thanks to Salah’s 28th of the season. Robertson could claim the assist as Martinez could only parry the left back’s shot in the path of the grateful Egyptian. Villa almost retook the lead when Mahmoud Trezeguet struck the inside of the post with Alisson beaten. But after a couple of substitutions created a disjointed finale, substitute Xherdan Shaqiri found Thiago who forced Martinez’s into a wonderful close range save. Alexander-Arnold picked up the rebound and made no mistake. Temporarily, at least, Liverpool look genuine top four candidates again.
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April 10, 2021 at 09:50PM
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Watkins fires Aston Villa in front of Liverpool - Yahoo Sports
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