Mane, Jones strikes give Liverpool 2-0 win over Villa
The HinduLiverpool kept alive its bid to finish the Premier League season with a perfect home record after labouring to a 2-0 win against relegation-threatened Aston Villa on Sunday in its first match at Anfield since winning the title. Three days after Liverpool lost 4-0 at Manchester City in its first match as champion, Jurgen Klopp’s team again lacked the intensity, snap and precision that brought it the title in such devastating fashion this season. It was enough to earn the Reds one of the five wins they need to beat the record season points total in the Premier League of 100, set by Manchester City in 2017-18. Indeed, with Liverpool often looking lethargic, Villa carried a threat on the counterattack, although Dean Smith’s team wasn’t helped by a foot injury that seemed to hamper captain and playmaker Jack Grealish most of the game.