Liverpool missed the chance to move 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League but avoided defeat as Aston Villa battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw and hand hope to title race challenges Arsenal.
The leaders were gifted the opening goal as defender Andres Garcia passed straight to Diogo Jota and the forward squared to Mohamed Salah for his 24th goal of the season.
But Arne Slot’s side did not hold their advantage for long as they failed to clear a free-kick and Youri Tielemans thrashed in a volley to draw Unai Emery’s team level.
And Liverpool switched off again as they appealed for a handball on John McGinn, only to see Ollie Watkins ghost into the box to head in on the stroke of half-time.
Ibrahima Konate was forced to clear off the line as Marcus Rashford, on his first Aston Villa start, skipped past Alisson to shoot from out wide before Liverpool drew level.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot beat Emi Martinez as Liverpool then chased victory, with substitute Darwin Nunez blazing a golden chance over the crossbar. At the other end, Donyell Malen flashed a low shot past the post at the death.
But Liverpool’s second away draw in a row, after the Merseyside derby, opens the door to Arsenal - who would close Liverpool’s lead to five points if they beat West Ham on Saturday.
Follow all the Premier League action with our live blog below:
Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE
- FULL TIME! Liverpool extend Premier League lead to eight points with 2-2 draw
- 90+5' CLOSE! Villa almost win it as Malen's shot goes just wide (AVL 2-2 LIV)
- 69' MISS! Darwin Nunez wastes golden chance after coming on (AVL 2-2 LIV)
- 61' GOAL! Alexander-Arnold's strike deflects past Martinez for equaliser (AVL 2-2 LIV)
- 45+2 GOAL! Watkins heads Villa in front amid complaints for handball (AVL 2-1 LIV)
- 38' GOAL! Tielemans thrashes in after Liverpool fail to clear cross (AVL 1-1 LIV)
- 29' GOAL! Jota squares to Salah to finish after Villa giva ball away (AVL 0-1 LIV)
- 16' NO GOAL! Rashford offside as Van Dijk turns ball into own net (AVL 0-0 LIV)
Aston Villa FC 2 - 2 Liverpool FC
Are Liverpool wobbling?
23:15
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Jamie Braidwood
The records will show that Liverpool now have one win in their last four games - when the FA Cup defeat to Plymouth is considered.
But their two Premier League draws, against Everton at Goodison and Aston Villa at Villa Park, could be classed as a “good point” in a normal title race.
On Sunday, Liverpool go to Manchester City and then host Newcastle on Wednesday. If they pick up four points from those games, then they will still be in a very good position.
Arne Slot explains Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota subs
22:46
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Jamie Braidwood
Liverpool’s tails were up when Alexander-Arnold equalised but both he and Jota were replaced shortly afterwards, but Slot says it was pre-planned given they have recently returned from injury lay-offs.
“For months, Jota almost hasn't been available. He could only play 60 today, same as Trent and that is why we had to make those substitutions. I would love to keep them in the team but we have to play Sunday and Wednesday again and you saw with Conor Bradley how much of a risk it is. But Jota and Trent played good games."
Who deserved to win?
22:31
,
Jamie Braidwood
Arne Slot said Liverpool “deserved” to win on the balance of play.
"The pressure is always on you if you are Liverpool,” he tells TNT Sports. “It matters where we are in the league table but the pressure is always on if you are Liverpool. We have all the ingredients to achieve success this season. There have been a lot of games this season where I have felt if one team deserved to win it was us.”
Unai Emery does not quite agree.
“You have to wait your moment to attack and get chances like we had,” he tells TNT. “We did. We were more or less competing well and we came back in the first half. When you are winning like that, it's Liverpool and they can score like they did. We came close to scoring in the final minute. We had more options to win in the final 20 minutes.”
'There is one person in the dressing room that feels quite down'
22:14
,
Jamie Braidwood
Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports, says Liverpool were close to playing a “very, very good game” but were let down by their missed chances against Aston Villa.
"Not so happy, to be honest. We created far more chances than them and created chances to win. But we also conceded from a set piece.
"If you are 1-0 down it is far from easy. Their second chance was a goal, was a cross, but they may have won it in the final moments but when you put all the chances together, I am not happy with the 2-2.
"They lost a very good striker but brought in two new ones in the winter break. It is a difficult one because of the team they have the support they have from the fans.
“If you look at the chances we had to win the game, you can understand that there is one person in the dressing room that feels quite down. I think you know who it is."
I think that’s Nunez...
The Darwin Nunez miss that Liverpool may regret in Premier League title race
21:58
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Pete Hall, at Villa Park
Ten points clear with 12 games to go would have almost certainly put Liverpool, without a completely convincing title rival, on course for a second Premier League title before February is even out.
But Darwin’s gonna Darwin - Nunez has had a telling contribution in several Liverpool victories this term, but that penchant for the most calamitous misses never ceases to amaze.
The Uruguayan missed 27 big chances last term, but few as glaring as the one that could, and should, have earned Liverpool victory that had the potential to end the title race as a contest.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:44
,
Jamie Braidwood
Liverpool have still not lost away from home in the Premier League this season - or anywhere since September in the top-flight.
Arne Slot is unhappy at conceding from a set-piece tonight and says Liverpool deserved to win tonight given the chances his side had.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:40
,
Jamie Braidwood
Virgil van Dijk, speaking to TNT Sports, says Liverpool are “disappointed” with a draw at Villa Park after having chances to win the game.
"We should have scored 3-2, but credit to Aston Villa, they made it very difficult,” the Liverpool captain says. “We have a very tough one on the weekend again [at the Etihad], then we play Newcastle.
“Our focus now will be on Man City, a very difficult game, we know that. Do everything in your power to win games, the focus will be that on Sunday again."
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:36
,
Jamie Braidwood
So Aston Villa have still not beaten Liverpool since that 7-2 win in October 2020, but they’ll take a point against the Premier League leaders. The frustration for Unai Emery’s side is they can turn up against the big boys but struggle against the sides they should be beating - such as Ipswich on Saturday.
They stay ninth with a point - but just four points off fifth-placed Bournemouth. It’s tight in there.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:32
,
Jamie Braidwood
“We take a point and move on,” says Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. I’ll take his word for it.
Liverpool head to Manchester City on Sunday - a place they’ve not won in the Premier League since 2015.
Before then, Arsenal could have cut their lead to five points as they host West Ham on Saturday.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:30
,
Jamie Braidwood
A good point for Liverpool? Two points dropped? Or somewhere in between? As the dust settles, what we know is the Reds are now eight clear of Arsenal. They led, trailed, and then found an equaliser against a Villa side who were up for the fight.
Both teams could have won it late on, with Nunez missing a golden chance and Malen shooting just wide.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:26
,
Jamie Braidwood
And breathe. A proper battle at Villa Park. Thrilling.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:25
,
Jamie Braidwood
90+5 mins: CLOSE! OH MY GOODNESS! Liverpool let out a huge sigh of relief as Malen breaks to the edge of the box and flashes a shot just wide of Alisson’s post.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:24
,
Jamie Braidwood
90+4 mins: Tielemans is given the TV’s man of the match. Good choice.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:24
,
Jamie Braidwood
90+3 mins: Cash flies forward and strikes at goal - it loops up but is saved by Alisson.
Salah thinks he’s won a corner at the other end but a goal-kick is awarded.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:22
,
Jamie Braidwood
90+2 mins: Tielemans will take it. The ball gets stuck with Mings... it breaks to Rogers but he blasts over the bar from the inside left!
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:21
,
Jamie Braidwood
90 mins: We’re into five minutes of added time. Liverpool found a late winner here the last time they lifted the league in 2019/20 - can they find another or will it be Villa? They have a corner.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:19
,
Jamie Braidwood
89 mins: Frustration for Liverpool and Salah as his cross is overhit. Liverpool have not created much since that Nunez miss.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:18
,
Jamie Braidwood
87 mins: Liverpool and Aston Villa are deciding whether to stick or twist. But the Reds have a blow as Conor Bradley is down. He has also recently come back from a hamstring injury. Looks as if he felt something there.
Jarell Quansah is on.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:15
,
Jamie Braidwood
84 mins: That is excellent play from Villa to take on the full Liverpool press and play out from their own box. Gutsy. Konate stops the attack at the other end.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:13
,
Jamie Braidwood
83 mins: Van Dijk is forward as Liverpool win a corner - and then another as Szoboszlai strikes off Rogers. The referee blows for a foul of McGinn from Konate. Salah strikes against the upright but the whistle had gone.
NO GOAL !Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:11
,
Jamie Braidwood
81 mins: Aston Villa have the ball in the net but Ramsey is flagged offside! It’s tight but it looks as if Robertson and Bradley just managed to step up in time. Good finish from Ramsey.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
79 mins: Van Dijk wins a couple of big headers and then Alisson claims before sparking the counter-attack! Salah makes the run and breaks into the box. He pulls it back to Nunez but he gets it horribly, horribly wrong looking for Szoboszlai. Straight out.
Luis Diaz is on, replacing Mac Allister. Szoboszlai will drop back.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:07
,
Jamie Braidwood
77 mins: End to end stuff as Rogers marches forward and slips in Malen, who is forced wide by Robertson but comes away from with a corner. Maatsen is on for Digne.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:05
,
Jamie Braidwood
75 mins: Another huge moment! Suddenly Nunez is bearing through on goal after a heavy touch from Mings but Martinez is so sharp off his line and wins the tackle as Nunez tried to knock it past him. Let off for Villa!
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:04
,
Jamie Braidwood
74 mins: Nervy moments for Liverpool as the newly introduced Ramsey gets past Bradley and Konate fails to clear. It almost breaks to Malen but Liverpool scramble away.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:01
,
Jamie Braidwood
70 mins: Alisson delivers for Liverpool again as he stands up tall and saves against Malen, who was played in down the right. The flag went up but Malen was onside. Big save.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
20:59
,
Jamie Braidwood
69 mins: WHAT A MISS! WHAT A CHANCE! Liverpool slice Villa apart as Bradley finds Szoboszlai, who squares to Nunez. He just needs to keep his foot over the ball but Nunez blasts horribly over the bar under the challenge of Disasi, who roars as if he has scored a goal.
The Liverpool bench can’t believe it.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
20:58
,
Jamie Braidwood
66 mins: Changes for Liverpool. Bradley and Nunez replace Alexander-Arnold and Jota. Alexander-Arnold does not look too pleased but Liverpool do go to Manchester City on Sunday amid a run of five games in 15 days. And he’s just back from injury.
Cash and Malen are also on for Villa. Rashford and Garcia make way.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
20:55
,
Jamie Braidwood
63 mins: Liverpool’s tails are up. There are more chances after Alexander-Arnold’s equaliser. Salah and Szoboszlai exchange passes in the box but Szoboszlai’s shot is blocked. From the corner, it almost falls to Jota but Martinez garthers.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool (ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 61')
20:51
,
Jamie Braidwood
LIVERPOOL ARE LEVEL!
It’s a sucker-punch after Van Dijk robbed the ball from Watkins - Liverpool flew forward and Alexander-Arnold led the charge. Salah nips past Digne and it’s worked inside to Alexander-Arnold.
He strikes it sweetly, but the shot takes a wicked deflection off Mings that beats Martinez. Alexander-Arnold heads straight back to his own half. Liverpool want to win this.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:50
,
Jamie Braidwood
59 mins: OFF THE BAR! So close from Jota. He takes a touch out of his feet and the edge of the box and cracks a dipping effort. It drops suddenly to crash against the woodwork. I don’t think Martinez was getting there.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:48
,
Jamie Braidwood
56 mins: Half of a chance for Liverpool as the ball is quickly played forward to Szoboszlai and the midfielder hits it first time - it takes a touch on its way through to Martinez.
Mings, meanwhile, is limping. Villa are short of centre-backs as it is.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:47
,
Jamie Braidwood
55 mins: From Mac Allister’s second corner, Robertson heads over from the front post.
Luis Diaz is warming up for Liverpool.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:46
,
Jamie Braidwood
54 mins: The Liverpool corner will have to be retaken as Konate pushing McGinn who falls into Martinez, who goes down.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:45
,
Jamie Braidwood
53 mins: A spell of sustained pressure now from Liverpool. Villa have dropped five yards or so deeper.
Salah’s cross is headed behind by Rogers.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:43
,
Jamie Braidwood
52 mins: Excellent work from Tielemans to get back and tackle Salah after a Villa attack broke down. The Belgian is tireless and leads the energy of Emery’s team so well.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:41
,
Jamie Braidwood
50 mins: CHANCE! Almost a disaster for Liverpool and Alisson. Rashford is played through down the left wing and the goalkeeper comes for it. But Rashford gets there first and skips past him!
Thankfully for him, Konate is on the line to clear Rashford’s shot. The angle was very tight.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:40
,
Jamie Braidwood
49 mins: Poor from Liverpool as Watkins presses Alisson and his pass towards Robertson goes out of play.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:38
,
Jamie Braidwood
47 mins: Mac Allister draws a foul from Asensio, giving Van Dijk and Konate the chance to go forward.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:36
,
Jamie Braidwood
Back underway at Villa Park. No changes at half time.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:33
,
Jamie Braidwood
Liverpool are the only team in English league football who are yet to lose away from home this season - that record is on the line in this second half.
Arsenal fans will be watching on with interest, too.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:27
,
Jamie Braidwood
Liverpool were second best after being gifted the opening goal. They switched off defensively in two situations, the first conceding from a set-piece they were unable to clear and Tielemans thrashed in, and then waiting for a free-kick for handball and failing to stop the cross from the left. Watkins was left with a free header.
Great run from Watkins and cross from Digne, though.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:20
,
Jamie Braidwood
What a half of football - Liverpool led but the leaders head into the break behind!
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool (WATKINS 45+2')
20:18
,
Jamie Braidwood
WOW VILLA HAVE TURNED IT AROUND - BUT LIVERPOOL ARE NOT HAPPY!
Liverpool stopped, asking for a free-kick when the ball hits McGinn’s hand following a tussle with Jota.
And Liverpool don’t wake up from there. Villa are given the freedom of the pitch to attack down the left.
The ball is swung into the box and finds Watkins, who plants a beautiful header past Allison and into the far corner.
Liverpool are furious that the McGinn handball wasn’t given.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:16
,
Jamie Braidwood
45 mins: Three minutes added on. Villa have the ball in line with Liverpool’s box with the Digne throw in.
Liverpool had the chance to break but Salah could not find Jota, who had strayed offside anyway.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:15
,
Jamie Braidwood
43 mins: Liverpool’s lead lasted less than 10 minutes - they’ve given away a lot of free-kicks around their box and Villa are good from set-pieces.
There’s a good flowing feel to this match, though. Just a few moments to go now before half time.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:12
,
Jamie Braidwood
41 mins: CLOSE! You can hear the nerves from the Villa fans when they try and play out from defence. They get it wrong again and the ball breaks to Jones, who shoots across Martinez but wide of the far post.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
39 mins: HUGE chance! Now Liverpool should be back in front! Jota is released but somehow puts his shot 10 yards wide of the post! Awful finish as he opened is body and looked for the far corner.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool (TIELEMANS 39')
20:08
,
Jamie Braidwood
AND VILLA ARE LEVEL!
It’s scrappy but they strike from the set-piece! McGinn keeps it alive to nod it back across, Mings challenges and Szoboszlai clears but it only falls to Tielemans, who volleys in!
We knew there would be goals! Tielemans loves a big one, too.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
20:07
,
Jamie Braidwood
35 mins: Mac Allister was down for Liverpool but he’s back up - only to immediately foul Rashford. It’s good from Rashford, who nutmegs Mac Allister, who slips and fouls him. Free kick for Villa in a decent position.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
20:06
,
Jamie Braidwood
34 mins: Just the 15 goals for Salah in the Premier League this season already - and that’s AWAY from home.
He’s up to 24 in total - five clear of Erling Haaland now.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
20:03
,
Jamie Braidwood
31 mins: The game’s first shot on target. Salah won’t get an easier goal all season.
It wasn’t as if it hadn’t been coming, though. Villa had been shaky playing all from the early stages.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool (SALAH 29')
19:59
,
Jamie Braidwood
GUESS WHO?! Aston Villa you cannot give Mohamed Salah a chance like that!
It’s a disaster for Andrés García, who passed straight to Jota as Villa opened up. Jota is able to carry into the box and squares to Salah, who fires high into an empty net.
Liverpool lead and it’s an absolute gift!
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:58
,
Jamie Braidwood
27 mins: Robertson has the full left wing to cover on his own for Liverpool but does well to race around the edge of the box. It’s pulled back to Mac Allister, but the Argentine’s shot is blocked by Disasi.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:56
,
Jamie Braidwood
24 mins: McGinn gets an important touch in the Villa box as Jota looked to bring the ball down and volley.
Then Robertson picks out Salah at the back post. but the league’s top scorer can’t keep his header down.
That’s a chance! It sails over the bar.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:54
,
Jamie Braidwood
22 mins: Mac Allister goes down in the box with Liverpool defending a free-kick and a yellow card for Disasi explains why. It looks as if the centre-back just caught Mac Allister with a loose arm, and Liverpool get the free-kick.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:50
,
Jamie Braidwood
19 mins: CHANCE! Another lovely move, this time from Liverpool. Szoboszlai is gently slipped through but Martinez is so quick off his line and saves as Szoboszlai looked to chip it back across to Jota.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:49
,
Jamie Braidwood
18 mins: At the other end, a couple of moments for Liverpool. Jones is put through but Mings recovers to poke the ball clear, with Martinez also coming off his line.
Then Jota is picked out but his volley, on the left foot, is dragged wide.
NO GOAL! Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:47
,
Jamie Braidwood
16 mins: SUPERB from Rashford - the ball is in the net but the flag is also up. Let’s see.
Yep, offside. Rashford exchanged a one-two with Asensio and flashed the ball across goal, going in off Van Dijk’s leg.
But Rashford was a touch offside. Still a sharp move though.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:46
,
Jamie Braidwood
16 mins: Van Dijk tries to pick out Szoboszlai with a long pass over the top but it’s beyond the Hungarian.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:45
,
Jamie Braidwood
14 mins: Villa take it short to get Rashford to deliver the ball with his lovely, pacey whip from the left. It’s too close to Alisson, though, and he claims.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:44
,
Jamie Braidwood
12 mins: Szoboszlai drags down Tielemans and Villa have a free-kick 35 yards out. Konate heads away Asensio’s cross before Alisson punches the next ball in from Garcia.
Villa with a decent spell and they win a corner as Disasi, of all people, gets to the byline. Konate gets out and makes the block.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:42
,
Jamie Braidwood
10 mins: Gravenberch turns wonderfully from a throw-in but the play breaks down as Jones attempts a flick. Jones is tucking in at times as Jota goes out wide - it’s a lot more fluid than usual when Diaz is out on the wing.
At the other end, Rashford steps inside but Konate reads his pass into Watkins. Rashford looks lively, as does this game.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:38
,
Jamie Braidwood
7 mins: Villa get their first chance to attack as Rogers turns well. Alexander-Arnold can nick the ball away from Rashford and Konate clears. Villa are playing a dangerous game but they are trying to draw in Liverpool before quickly flowing through them.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:36
,
Jamie Br