In a riveting Premier League encounter, Liverpool maintained their unbeaten away record by the skin of their teeth as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury-time thunderbolt secured a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park. However, Reds boss Arne Slot will likely have mixed emotions about the result, as his side squandered glorious chances to snatch a victory that would have further tightened their grip on top spot.
The Merseysiders seized the initiative early on, with Mohammed Salah opening the scoring after being teed up by Diogo Jota. But Villa, galvanized by the home support, roared back with goals from new signing Youri Tielemans and striker Ollie Watkins to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Reds’ Profligacy Nearly Proves Costly
Liverpool will be left ruing a host of missed opportunities, none more glaring than Darwin Núñez’s skied effort from point-blank range late on. The Uruguayan, introduced as a second-half substitute, somehow blazed over with the goal at his mercy after being expertly picked out by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Jota, too, will feel he should have done better when presented with a clear sight of goal just before the break. Put clean through by Andy Robertson, the Portuguese forward could only shank his shot wide of the target with only Emiliano Martínez to beat.
Those are the kind of chances you simply have to take at this level, especially in a title race as tight as this one. Slot will know his team got away with one today.
– Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports pundit
Alexander-Arnold to the Rescue
Thankfully for Liverpool, they possess a player of rare talent in Alexander-Arnold. The right-back took matters into his own hands on 61 minutes, advancing into space and unleashing an unstoppable drive that flew past Martínez via a slight deflection off Tyrone Mings.
It was a moment of individual brilliance that rescued a potentially damaging situation for the Reds. With Arsenal in hot pursuit just eight points behind and with a game in hand, Slot and his players will know there is little margin for error in the title run-in.
Villa’s New Boys Make Their Mark
For Villa, there were plenty of positives to take from a spirited display. January acquisitions Tielemans and winger Marco Asensio, another starter, both impressed on their home debuts.
Tielemans in particular caught the eye, scoring a well-taken equalizer and exhibiting the kind of passing range and composure in possession that made him such a sought-after commodity. If the Belgian maintains this form, Unai Emery’s side could be poised for a strong finish to the campaign.
Implications for the Title Race
So a point apiece it finished, but a draw that will likely be met with differing emotions in the respective dressing rooms. For Liverpool, relief at avoiding defeat but frustration at spurning the chance to land a psychological blow in the title fight. For Villa, pride at going toe-to-toe with the league leaders but a tinge of disappointment at not holding out for a famous victory.
As the dust settles on a absorbing contest, Slot and his Liverpool squad will regroup and refocus for the challenges ahead. This result keeps them in pole position, but they will know better than anyone that there is still a long way to go in this most unpredictable of seasons.
With Arsenal refusing to go away and Manchester City also in the mix, the destination of the Premier League trophy is far from decided. Liverpool remain the team to catch, but they will need to be more clinical than they were at Villa Park if they are to stay there. The margin for error at the top continues to narrow.
