BIRMINGHAM: Premier League leaders Liverpool needed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday that lifted them eight points clear at the top.
Liverpool began strongly and led through Mohamed Salah’s 28th-minute opener, but Villa turned the game on its head before halftime with goals by Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.
Diogo Jota struck the crossbar for Liverpool after the break before Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot levelled it up.
Substitute Darwin Nunez missed a glorious chance to restore Liverpool’s lead and Villa almost nicked it in stoppage time with Donyell Malen’s shot shaving the post.
“You can understand there is one person in the dressing room who feels quite down,” said Slot on Nunez’s late miss. “If you watch the game back we created far more chances than them, we did everything we needed to do. The only thing that wasn’t perfect was conceding from a set-piece.”
Liverpool are now 22 Premier League games unbeaten, but after conceding at the death against local rivals Everton, a second 2-2 draw in eight days offers Arsenal — who have a game in hand — hope in the title race.
Slot’s men also face a tough trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
A point does little for Villa’s hope of returning to the Champions League next season as they remain in ninth.
“A draw I think is fair for both teams because they had also chances to score,” said Villa boss Unai Emery.Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2025