League leaders fail to increase lead at high to 10 factors

Liverpool squandered the prospect to increase their lead on the high of the Premier League to 10 factors as they needed to come from behind to keep away from defeat towards Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

In a scintillating encounter at Villa Park, Mohamed Salah gave the league leaders an early lead earlier than objectives from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins earlier than the break turned the tie on its head.

Trent Alexander-Arnold levelled issues shortly after the hour mark as Arne Slot’s group needed to accept some extent.

The outcome leaves the Reds eight factors away from second-placed Arsenal, whereas Unai Emery’s males, who haven’t misplaced at dwelling within the Premier League since August, stay in ninth.

A tough-earned level at Villa Park 🤝 pic.twitter.com/METGcmjvf8

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 19, 2025

How the motion unfolded

A brand new, retro-tinged Nike ball was getting used for the primary time, nevertheless it was a well-known story within the early levels because the league leaders started strongly.

Virgil van Dijk blasted over from a decent angle after a neat set-piece transfer on three minutes whereas Diogo Jota stabbing huge from an Andy Robertson cut-back.

Moments later Jota then headed huge when the Portuguese worldwide ought to have maybe performed quite a bit higher.

However on 18-minutes, Villa had the ball within the internet. A neat one-two between Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio – each making their full debuts – culminated in a pushed cross that was turned in by Ollie Watkins however the offside flag was swiftly raised.

On the half-hour mark, Andres Garcia gifted Liverpool an opportunity when the Villa man performed in Jota whereas beneath stress from Curtis Jones. Jota unselfishly squared to Salah who fired into the roof of the web.

Ten minutes later, nonetheless, Villa had been stage. Rashford once more proved influential as his ball in ultimately fell to Tielemans and the Belgian despatched his shot past Alisson.

The host’s tails had been up and, buoyed by a jubilant Villa Park crowd, accomplished the comeback in first-half stoppage time. The ball was labored out huge to Lucas Digne who whipped in a teasing cross from the left for Watkins to move dwelling.

Villa Park erupts as Ollie Watkins places the house aspect forward simply earlier than half-time 🦁

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/NDvoaKZFVt

— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025

The Liverpool gamers had been despatched out early earlier than the restart, with Slot’s aspect seeking to wrestle the tie again of their favour.

And shortly after the hour mark, they had been stage – albeit with a slice of fine fortune – when Alexander-Arnold’s shot fallacious footed Emi Martinez by way of a deflection off Tyrone Mings’ leg.

It was shaping as much as be a Premier League traditional. The Reds ought to have taken the lead when substitute Darwin Nunez blasted over with the aim at his mercy: an opportunity that left Slot together with his head in his fingers.

Darwin Nunez misses a golden alternative to place Liverpool forward 😬

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8f0rFedPHs

— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025

Minutes later, Donyell Malen, additionally on as an alternative to Villa, may have put the guests in entrance however Alisson was equal to it.

Emery’s aspect then had a second aim disallowed after Jacob Ramsey discovered the web however once more the flag was shortly raised.

Malen once more had an opportunity proper on the loss of life however, ultimately, the factors remained shared.