Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0: Mane and starlet Jones strike as Reds sink Villa into further trouble
SADIO MANE and youngster Curtis Jones got newly crowned champions Liverpool back to winning ways in yet another defeat for Aston Villa.
Mane put his side ahead on 71 minutes with some help from midfielder Naby Keita.
The Senegalese star fired home from inside the box with his effort rattling the crossbar before going over the line.
Mo Salah helped wrap up the three points as he set up Curtis Jones for a late second.
The talented teenager, 19, scored his first Premier League goal - he scored two FA Cup goals this season - just minutes after coming onto the field.
Jones started an attack just inside Villa's half and after a cross was eventually put into the box, Salah laid it off to the young midfielder who smashed home.
The win in front of an empty Anfield condemns Villa to another defeat and keeps them a point from safety.
Dean Smith's team play host to in-form Manchester United in their next game on Thursday, before playing Crystal Palace next Sunday.
It gives United target Jack Grealish a chance to impress in front of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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Grealish has been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford, regardless of whether Villa stay up or not.
As for Liverpool they put their 4-0 hammering against Manchester City behind them, and jumped to 89 points.
They travel to Brighton next and only play league football for the remainder of the domestic season, having been knocked out of Europe and the FA Cup.
