19 February 2025
Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 2
Unai Emery’s side have struggled to keep up with the sides above them this campaign in their pursuit of becoming a top four regular in the Premier League. They welcomed Liverpool to Villa Park and were hoping to be a major obstacle for The Reds as they look to make this a title-winning season. It would prove a stern test of the hosts, to see if they can continue to compete at the highest level.
The hosts had both Rashford and Asensio in the starting line-up as they looked to utilise their January signings in this crunch match. Liverpool forced an early corner, which turned into an impressive training ground move. Alexander-Arnold clipped a ball over the Villa defence with the outside of his right foot, to pick out van Dijk at the back post.
It probably dropped to the wrong person, being a centre-back, with the Dutchman volleying his effort well over the target. It was an early warning for the hosts that this team has the ability to unpick the best defences in an instant. Emery’s side needed to be alert for the duration of the match, they could not let their guard slip for a moment if they were to upset the odds.
Villa started to get themselves into trouble trying to play out from the back. Attempting a high risk pass to play through the Liverpool press gifted the ball to Alexander-Arnold. He put a pinpoint cross into the box to find Jota, who had a completely free header, six yards out. The Portuguese attacker sent his effort well wide of the goal when he really should have been scoring.
Jota broke the lines once again as Konate found him but he dragged his volley wide. It was a difficult chance but one he would have backed himself to score from in such a position. The warning signs were there for the hosts and you started to wonder whether Arne Slot’s side would pay the ultimate price for their poor finishing in the final third.
Garcia then played a dreadful backpass to his keeper, which was intercepted by Jota. As he drove towards goal, he unselfishly laid it on a plate for Salah. Liverpool’s Egyptian winger made no mistakes as he drilled the ball into the back of the net to give The Reds a deserved lead. Villa Park fell silent as the away end erupted, knowing how important victories are in their pursuit of the title.
As the hosts came forward in a rare attack, Mac Allister was penalised for a foul on Rashford out wide. McGinn swung a cross into the box and The Reds failed to deal with it. It dropped to Tielemans, who volleyed past Alisson to draw his side level. It was a disappointing goal to concede as Slot’s side had plenty of opportunities to clear it.
The Reds looked for an immediate reply as they played a ball over the defence to set Jota away. He used his pace to leave the Villa defence in his wake and only had Martinez to beat. What surprised many was the way he sliced his effort closer to the corner flag than to the goal. Usually known for his clinical nature, on this occasion he showed the finishing abilities of somebody on hunger strike.
Deep into added time, the hosts started to ask more questions. It was worked out wide to Digne, whose cross from the byline picked out the advancing Watkins in the box. The England striker made no mistake as he headed home to give Emery’s side the lead against the balance of play. The visitors were really paying the price for their wasteful nature at Villa Park.
After the interval, The Reds were much quicker out of the traps. They were passing the ball around and Aston Villa were chasing shadows. It broke to Jota, just outside side the box, who unleashed a first-time shot. Martinez was beaten but his effort clipped the top of the crossbar and went over, much to the frustrations of the league leaders.
One of the most difficult things about playing this Liverpool side is that you are always at your most vulnerable defensively when you attack them. Much like most deadly predators in the world, you are likely to get stung in these scenarios. As a move petered out for the hosts, The Reds immediately countered and within a few passes, they were bearing down on goal.
It was played out wide to Salah, who skipped past the defender. He rolled the ball into the path of Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the box, who drilled a superb shot low into the far corner of the goal. Martinez had no chance, such was the precision of the effort of the Liverpool full-back. Again the away end erupted as they finally managed to get themselves back on level terms.
Liverpool then had a massive chance to win the game. As a pass was threaded through the middle for Szoboszlai to run onto, as Martinez closed him down, he opted to roll it into the path of Nunez at the back post. With a completely empty goal to aim for, somehow, the Uruguayan blazed his shot over the crossbar. Everyone was stood in disbelief.
The Reds’ fans will always stick by their players, through thick and thin. However, with a Premier League title at stake, patience is wearing thin with the former Benfica striker. This is something the hierarchy will need address in the summer, the lack of a clinical finisher up front seems to be hindering their plans for world domination right now.
Villa threw everything at the visitors in the closing stages of the game, knowing if they grabbed a goal there would be no time for a reply from The Reds. Cash had a shot from distance but Alisson got down well to save. Moments later, Malen got away from Jones and made a beeline for goal. As he unleashed his effort, it narrowly missed the far post.
The points were shared at Villa Park, with Liverpool moving eight points clear at the top of the table. This was always going to be tough game for Slot’s side but he will feel they created more than enough chances to win the game. What will be a major concern is how few shots on target they had over the course of the match, this needs addressing at the business end of the season.
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