Liverpool missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table as they settled for a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening. A victory would have pushed them ten points clear of title rivals Arsenal, but instead, they now hold an eight-point advantage. The match started in Liverpool’s favor after a costly mistake from Villa’s Andres Garcia. The defender’s misplaced pass landed at the feet of Diogo Jota, who wasted no time setting up Mohamed Salah for a clinical finish. However, their lead was short-lived, as Villa responded just nine minutes later when Youri Tielemans capitalized on a weak headed clearance from Dominik Szoboszlai and fired past Alisson.
The home side completed a stunning first-half turnaround in stoppage time. Lucas Digne’s precise cross found Ollie Watkins, who finished expertly to give Villa a 2-1 lead at the break. Liverpool faced a tough challenge in the second half, needing a response to maintain their momentum in the title race. They found an equalizer just after the hour mark through Trent Alexander-Arnold, who connected with a pass from Salah before unleashing a shot that deflected past Emiliano Martinez. The visitors continued to push for a winner, and Darwin Nunez had the best opportunity to seal the victory, but the Uruguayan forward failed to convert a golden chance in front of an open goal.
Despite their efforts, Liverpool had to settle for a single point, keeping them at the top but allowing Arsenal a chance to close the gap in the coming fixtures. The draw adds further intensity to the title race, with every remaining match carrying immense significance. Here’s how the players from both sides performed during the encounter:
Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Emiliano Martinez | 6.7/10 |
| RB: Andres Garcia | 5.3/10 |
| CB: Axel Disasi | 6.8/10 |
| CB: Tyrone Mings | 6.5/10 |
| LB: Lucas Digne | 7.4/10 |
| DM: Youri Tielemans | 6.3/10 |
| DM: John McGinn | 8.1/10 |
| RW: Morgan Rogers | 6.8/10 |
| AM: Marco Asensio | 6.7/10 |
| LW: Marcus Rashford | 6.9/10 |
| ST: Ollie Watkins | 7.1/10 |
| SUB: Donyell Malen (67′ for Rashford) | 6.1/10 |
| SUB: Jacob Ramsey (67′ for Asensio) | 6.4/10 |
| SUB: Matty Cash (67′ for Garcia) | 6.7/10 |
| SUB: Ian Maatsen (78′ for Digne) | 6.2/10 |
| SUB: Lamare Bogarde (86′ for McGinn) | N/A |
| Subs not used: Oliwier Zych (GK), Robin Olsen (GK), Jamaldeen Jimoh |
Liverpool Player Ratings vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Alisson | 6.1/10 |
| RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold | 8.0/10 |
| CB: Ibrahima Konate | 7.9/10 |
| CB: Virgil van Dijk | 6.7/10 |
| LB: Andy Robertson | 6.9/10 |
| DM: Ryan Gravenberch | 6.3/10 |
| DM: Alexis Mac Allister | 7.3/10 |
| RW: Mohamed Salah | 8.4/10 |
| AM: Dominik Szoboszlai | 7.2/10 |
| LW: Curtis Jones | 6.7/10 |
| ST: Diogo Jota | 7.5/10 |
| SUB: Conor Bradley (66′ for Alexander-Arnold) | 6.0/10 |
| SUB: Darwin Nunez (66′ for Jota) | 5.8/10 |
| SUB: Luis Diaz (81′ for Mac Allister) | N/A |
| SUB: Jarell Quansah (89′ for Bradley) | N/A |
| Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa |
Player of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Liverpool will now turn their focus to their upcoming fixtures, knowing that every point is crucial in their pursuit of the Premier League title. The result at Villa Park may have been a setback, but with a commanding position in the league, the Reds remain in control of their fate.
