Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa away from home in the Premier League on Wednesday evening and have given Arsenal hope in the Premier League title race.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead early on when Marcus Rashford's cross was deflected into the back of the net by Andrew Robertson, but Virgil van Dijk excellently stepped up to play the Manchester United loanee offside.
However, Villa's Andres Garcia gifted the visitors the lead when he recklessly tried to pass to his goalkeeper and instead gave possession to Diogo Jota, who squared a simple ball across to Mohamed Salah before the Egyptian struck the roof of the net from yards out just shy of the half-hour mark.
Liverpool found themselves pegged back less than 10 minutes later after failing to clear the ball following Rashford's set-piece delivery into the box, with Youri Tielemans striking into the ground and levelling the scoreline.
Ollie Watkins leapt onto the end of Lucas Digne's curled cross into the penalty area just before the half-time whistle to give Unai Emery's side a 2-1 lead, but Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected strike on the hour mark brought Arne Slot's Reds back on level terms.
The match ended even and the result leaves Villa in ninth place with 39 points, while Liverpool remain first with 61 points, extending their lead over second-placed Arsenal to eight points.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
The draw keeps Villa's hopes of securing Champions League football for a second consecutive season alive considering they are only five points from fourth-placed Manchester City, though they have now played a game more than the champions.
As for Liverpool, the result has added significant pressure to their game on Sunday against Manchester City given Arsenal have the chance to close the gap at the top to five points should they beat West Ham United on Saturday.
However, the Reds' advantage at the top of the table is still a healthy one, and a draw at Villa Park is not always easy to achieve, so perhaps there is no reason to panic just yet.
ASTON VILLA VS. LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHTS
17th min: Andrew Robertson own goal (Liverpool) ruled out
© Imago
Rashford and Marco Asensio combine down the left flank before the former squares the cross across the box and the ball bounces into the back of the net off of Robertson under pressure from Watkins, but the flag is raised.
VAR checks and the decision stands!
Mohamed Salah goal vs. Aston Villa (29th min, Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool)
A nightmare at the back for Aston Villa 😳
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
Liverpool and Mo Salah take advantage of an Andres Garcia mistake to go 1-0 up at Villa Park 🔴
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/4xOdPy5mGu
Villa's Garcia has possession just outside the right corner of his own box, but he tries to pass to goalkeeper Emi Martinez and instead hands the ball to Jota, and the forward squares to Salah, who finishes from close range into the roof of the net.
A horrible mistake!
Youri Tielemans goal vs. Liverpool (38th min, Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool)
Aston Villa hit back less than 10 minutes after Liverpool's opener! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
Youri Tielemans levels the score to send the home crowd wild 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yi3mRXkM2r
Aston Villa play a free kick from the left into the box near the penalty spot, and John McGinn and Tyrone Mings keep the ball alive before flicking possession to Tielemans, who strikes into the ground and sees his effort bounce past Alisson Becker.
A great strike from Tielemans!
Ollie Watkins goal vs. Liverpool (45+3rd min, Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool)
Villa Park erupts as Ollie Watkins puts the home side ahead just before half-time 🦁
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/NDvoaKZFVt
Watkins shifts out wide to receive the ball and lays it off to Digne, who whips a curled cross from the left of Liverpool's box towards an onrushing Watkins, and the striker powers his header into the right side of the net.
Liverpool are asking for a handball but the goal stands!
Trent Alexander-Arnold goal vs. Aston Villa (61st min, Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold equalises for Liverpool 🔴
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2025
The 26-year-old links up with Mohamed Salah to level the score for the league leaders 💪
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Bc6AOcMYCN
Liverpool win the ball back in their own half and attack at pace on a counter-attack through Alexander-Arnold, and he lays a pass off to Salah, who returns the ball to the right-back on the edge of the box before the defender's strike at goal is deflected past Martinez after an attempted block from Mings.
The Reds are back in it!
MAN OF THE MATCH - YOURI TIELEMANS
© Imago
Tielemans performed excellently at the base of midfield, conducting Aston Villa's buildup while orchestrating their attacks.
Amongst Aston Villa players, the midfielder completed the most passes (49), played the most passes into the final third (9) and also scored his side's first.
ASTON VILLA VS. LIVERPOOL MATCH STATS
Possession: Aston Villa 53%-47% Liverpool
Shots: Aston Villa 9-17 Liverpool
Shots on target: Aston Villa 4-3 Liverpool
Corners: Aston Villa 6-8 Liverpool
Fouls: Aston Villa 8-6 Liverpool
BEST STATS
10 - Mohamed Salah is the first player to score and assist in 10 different games in one of Europe's big-five leagues in a season since Lionel Messi in 2014-15 (11 for Barcelona). Geniuses. pic.twitter.com/0qRsPiB69A
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 19, 2025
Mohamed Salah's incredible season just keeps going. 🤯
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2025
He has now been directly involved in 39 goals in just 26 Premier League matches in 2024/25 and is closing in on the record for the most G+A in a 38-game PL campaign (44).
◉ 24 goals
◉ 15 assists
The forward is the first... pic.twitter.com/C84OJNl2sE
WHAT NEXT?
Villa will take on Chelsea at home in the Premier League on February 22 and then travel to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace on February 25.
As for the Reds, an away trip against Manchester City awaits them on Sunday before a clash against Newcastle United at Anfield on February 26.
Lewis Nolan
