Aston Villa’s pulsating 2-2 draw on Wednesday let neither team feel satisfied, slowing Liverpool’s attempt to win the Premier League title.
Arne Slot’s men open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Arsenal, but the Gunners now have a game in hand over the Reds.
After Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins swung momentum in Villa’s favor, Liverpool continued to lead thanks to Mohamed Salah.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot secured a point for the visitors, but it should have been more as substitute Darwin Nunez missed a glorious chance to snatch victory.
Villa, though, could also have won it in stoppage time as Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen went close.
Villa, who are currently ninth in the table, have little hope of making it back to the Champions League next season.
Arsenal can win the title race with a second 2-2 draw in eight days, especially as Slot’s side travel to Manchester City on Sunday. Liverpool are currently 22 Premier League games unbeaten.
Unai Emery’s first Villa start came on Saturday against 10-man Ipswich, where Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio were held to a 1-1 draw.
Before Virgil van Dijk turned his cross into his own net, Rashford almost had a hand in the opening goal, but he had sped offside.
When the 29-minute opener did, Villa were the masters of their own demise.
Diogo Jota unselfishly squared for Salah to score his 29th goal of the season with a backpass from Andres Garcia.
Within nine minutes, Villa were level when Liverpool failed to properly clear a free-kick and Tielemans delivered a stylish finish from the spot.
Jota should have immediately given up on the visitors’ advantage when Emi Martinez was the only one to beat when he was blazed high and wide.
In the second half, Villa took the lead as poor Liverpool defending gave Watkins a free run before Lucas Digne’s cross with a header into the far corner.
Just seconds into the second half, Rashford had a big chance to make a name for himself for his new club when he headed past Alisson Becker, but Ibrahima Konate’s towering presence prevented him from doing so.
Following Slot’s successful run of never losing a Premier League game away, the Liverpool assault was rightly followed.
Jota deflected a fine effort off the bar from the box’s edge.
Alexander-Arnold’s deflection off Tyrone Mings gave the game a new life when he levelled on the hour mark.
One of his substitutes should have scored the crucial three points as a substitute for Luis Diaz and Nunez when they were searching for a winner.
After being picked out by Dominik Szoboszlai, Nunez had an open goal to pursue, but he snuck into his manager’s disbelief.
Then, Martinez had to rush off his line to stop Nunez from making another direct run into the goal.
Villa, though, had the majority of the chances in a frantic finale.
Source: Channels TV
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