Oh my, oh my, that was dramatic, wasn't it?
Liverpool scored twice inside the final three minutes to break Aston Villa hearts and claim all three points, with Sadio Mane glancing in a delicate header with seconds remaining.
NEVER. GIVE. UP. pic.twitter.com/xi9YcjOW82
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 2, 2019
But, before all of that, let's rewind to the start, shall we?
It was a frantic start to the game, and a very open one, as well. Both teams came close to opening the scoring early on, but it was Sadio Mane who perhaps should have given the away side the lead 15 minutes in.
Mane should have scored there. #AVLLIV thank God he did not.
— adebayo adelakun (@adelakunbayo) November 2, 2019
Good bit of work there, Sadio nods just wide. #AVLLIV #YNWA
— ⭐️⭐️⭐️LFC Seattle⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@lfcseattle) November 2, 2019
15' First real chance of the afternoon falls to Sadio Mane. Henderson's cross picks out the number ten but his header strays just wide of Heaton's far-post.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 2, 2019
[0-0]#AVLLIV
Naturally, you can just expect VAR to play some sort of a role in any match these days.
And guess what?
21 minutes in and VAR was put to the test. Aston Villa had the ball in the net thanks to Trezeguet, who rifled home John McGinn's cross. But, was he offside? The answer (controversially) was no. Here we go again...
VAR takes a ridiculous length of time to make a decision. But finally, finally, a decision went Villa’s way. #AVLLIV
— Niamh ☕️ (@NiamhoNiamh) November 2, 2019
Terrible start so far, come on Reds! #AVLLIV
— Matt Mumford (@Matt_Mumford) November 2, 2019
Liverpool got their warning from an earlier free kick and learned nothing from it. Deserve to be 1 down. Awful. #AVLLIV
— Evan Dunne (@EvanDunne) November 2, 2019
Offside no?#AVLLIV
— kie Matthews (Spud) (@lfckie) November 2, 2019
Ridiculous hold up with that VAR check. Clear goal for Villa. #AVLLIV
— Chris Pybus (@ChrisPybus) November 2, 2019
And then, seconds later, it was Liverpool's turn to find the back of the net. Roberto Firmino the man to tap home, but the linesman flagged for offside
Hold on, it went to VAR.
He appeared onside, but the goal was disallowed. As it turns out, he was offside by what was classified as an 'armpit.'
Cue the outrage...
VAR masterclass. Let’s get rid of it #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/CSmm7R1O0Q
— FX (@fxmutombo) November 2, 2019
I’ll say it again: #VARfanculo . That was a truly questionable call. #AVLLIV #lfc #ynwa #Firmino https://t.co/ILFwvy9eih
— Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (@cheryltan88) November 2, 2019
Live footage from the VAR booth #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/x8Y0e23Q0u
— Michael Clarke (@_michaelbclarke) November 2, 2019
You really can’t make this up. They said Firmino’s armpit was offside #AVLLIV https://t.co/iBt75Hnfk1
— John Etienne (@iamJOHNetienne) November 2, 2019
The second half got underway and the away side dominated possession once again. But, also, not for the first time, Jordan Henderson wasted a glorious chance with a wayward and sloppy pass...
— Piia (@PiiaMay) November 2, 2019
Henderson 郎郎郎#AVLLIV
— Conor McCarthy (@ConorMc61231140) November 2, 2019
Right Fabinho on for Henderson and Lallana on for Ox. #LFC #AVLLIV
— WilsonJ93 (@WilsonJ93) November 2, 2019
Time was running out, and Liverpool were beginning to look a little lost. Were they heading for their first league defeat of the season?
That was until Andy Robertson popped up at the back post to power home a header with three minutes remaining. Sadio Mane swivelled and floated a sumptuous ball towards the onrushing Robertson.
It was 1-1 and the away fans went wild...
Andy, Andy, Andy, ANDY ROBERTSON #AVLLIV
— Ollie LFC Oliver (@ollie_two) November 2, 2019
robertsoooooooooooon #AVLLIV
— revi kurniasari (@refiappi) November 2, 2019
Cmon we need one more #AVLLIV
— Vimal Dixit (@iamvdixit) November 2, 2019
But, yet, the players only spent a few seconds celebrating. Why? Because there was enough time for a winner. Just.
They couldn't, could they?
The crowd was beginning to get quieter and quieter as nerve levels rose. It was all Liverpool as the game headed into additional time.
Corner.
Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up and curled in a pinpoint cross, allowing Sadio Mane to glance a header into the far corner.
Aston Villa hearts were broken, but as for Liverpool hearts...
Now that's what champions are made of#AVLLIV
— PereJaY©️ (@JaY_Perebo) November 2, 2019
GIANT MENTALITY!! Cmon you reds #AVLLIV
— Nowshin (@NowshinS97) November 2, 2019
Liverpool doing Liverpool yet again. #AVLLIV
— Billy Gilmour (@BillyGilmourSZN) November 2, 2019
We just do not die GET IN YOU UTTER BEAUTIES!!!! #AVLLIV #Liverpool
— Greenfly98 (@Greenfly98) November 2, 2019
With barely enough time to get the game back underway, the referee blew the final whistle.
Jurgen Klopp went wild. The Liverpool players went wild. They knew that they weren't at their best, but they somehow, somehow came out of it with all three points.
A potentially huge win in terms of the title race...
We did it yet again. Performance won't matter as we take all 3 points home. Mentality monsters at full strength. We are really looking like we are on top of a perch. Few decisions against us but we never gave up. Up the Reds.
— Anand Shrestha (@anandstha17) November 2, 2019
MENTALLY GIANTS !
NEVER GIVE UP !#YNWA #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/JMoep9ExXp
Yessssssss What a victory. We won it, none expected us to win, I didn't expect us to win either. What a game. #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/29lWrDh1w6
— ONOME (@PrayerSubdues) November 2, 2019
I just love this football club @LFC. You can't tell me nothing. #YNWA #LFC #AVLLIV
— Kay Cee (@SarKelz) November 2, 2019
Liverpool. Unbelievbeatable. #AVLLIV #Liverpool #Klopp
— Comrade (@comrade_09) November 2, 2019
That's title winning mentality right there, to come from 1-0 behind against a tough Villa and take all 3 points at the end is unbelievable
— AJ (@AJ71108942) November 2, 2019
UP THE REDS #LFC #AVLLIV
It was not the performance Klopp will have been hoping for, but he won't care as they will go home with the points.
Next up in the league? Just the small matter of a top of the table clash with Manchester City. We can't wait.
Source : 90min