Liverpool kept their golden opportunity in Champions League football alive next season as Diogo Jota scored twice in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, while Aston Villa’s European attack came to a halt on Saturday in a 1-1 defeat at Brentford. At the other end of the Premier League table, Leicester came from behind to secure a first win in 11 games by beating Wolves 2-1 to move out of the relegation zone. Liverpool beat Leeds 6-1 on Monday to rekindle their hopes of a late challenge for a top-four finish, but made a tough job of overcoming a Forest side who had been out all season ahead of their visit to Anfield scored only five away goals.
Jota had not scored in a year before scoring twice at Elland Road earlier this week, but now has four goals in a week.
All of Liverpool’s goals came from set pieces as they exposed a shocking Forest defense.
Jota put the Reds ahead twice early in the second half, but Forest hit back through deflected attempts from Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White.
However, the visitors conceded twice within three minutes of leveling the score when Mohamed Salah netted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick for the winner 20 minutes from the end.
Liverpool climb to seventh place and are six points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, which host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Forest slip to second bottom, one point behind safety.
Villa are now unbeaten in nine games after coming from behind to save a point at Brentford.
Ivan Toney defeated Ollie Watkins to become Harry Kane’s deputy as England’s number nine.
Toney scored his 20th goal of the season off the back post from a Bryan Mbuemo cross.
But Douglas Luiz equalized three minutes from time to keep Villa in sixth.
Leicester turning point
Leicester shrugged off James Maddison’s absence through injury to secure a much-needed win in Dean Smith’s first home game in charge.
The Foxes got off to a poor start as Matheus Cunha shot Wolves into the lead.
But the game and possibly Leicester’s season changed when Jamie Vardy was brought down by Jose Sa eight minutes before the break and Kelechi Iheanacho leveled from the penalty spot.
Timothy Castagne then fired in Victor Kristiansen’s cross on 75 minutes for a priceless three points.
Leicester’s win put Everton into the relegation zone on goal difference, despite the Toffees’ 10 men holding out for a 0–0 draw at Crystal Palace.
Mason Holgate was sent off 10 minutes from time for two bookable offences, but Palace were unable to extend Roy Hodgson’s winning run to four games since his return to the club.
Leeds are now just one point outside the relegation zone after being beaten 2-1 at Fulham.
Javi Gracia’s decision to keep faith in goalkeeper Illan Meslier under fire backfired as the Frenchman fouled both Fulham goals in the second half, scored by Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira.
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