Sadio Mane drags tired Liverpool to victory over Aston Villa - player ratings

A below-par Liverpool were made to work for a win on their return to Anfield as Premier League champions on Sunday.

The Reds produced a far from vintage performance against relegation battlers Aston Villa, who at times looked the more likely to emerge with three points. It took until the 71st minute for Jurgen Klopp's side to break the deadlock, when Sadio Mane hammered an effort in off the underside of the crossbar.

Trent Alexander-Arnold had cut in from the right before picking out Naby Keita on the opposite side of the box, whose pass back inside teed up Mane for an emphatic finish. Substitute Curtis Jones then celebrated his new contract with a late goal, firing a deflected effort past Pepe Reina following Mohamed Salah's knock down.Liverpool Alisson 7 Not overly busy but solid and a fine late save to deny GrealishGomez 6 More comfortable than he was at the Etihad but not foot-perfectRobertson 5 Booked. Still not shaken off the celebration effects and nowhere near his bestKeita 7 Grafted hard enough and came up with the decisive assist.

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