Photo Credit: Associated Press
Jhon Duran came on as a substitute in the 79th minute to come back from two goals down against Liverpool. Liverpool wanted to give Jurgen Klopp a fitting farewell in his last season managing the club. The Reds manage to make their coach happy in the 2nd minute when Emiliano Martinez sloppily fumbled Harvey Elliot’s cross into his own net.
Aston Villa never gave up hope for they were chasing a top four finish since the 1995/96 season. Ten minutes later Ollie Watkins managed to pull of one of his signature dribbles at breakneck speed and cutting it back to Youri Tielemans who slotted it home past the Liverpool defense.
None of the side showed any signs of laxity and the third goal off the day could have gone either way. Liverpool managed to switch the ball from the left flank to the right which met an overlapping Joe Gomez in the final third. He crossed the ball in and Cody Gakpo was the receptor tapping it past Emiliano Martinez.
Despite the second goal from Klopp’s side, Villa’s hopes were not dampened even slightly. Unai Emery’s side almost leveled up the game for a second time before half-time. Leon Bailey ran past the Liverpool defense and squared it up for Douglas Luiz to convert but the Brazilian failed to connect effectively therefore sending the effort agonizingly wide.
After the half-time interval, the odds of a comeback by the hosts diminished when Jarell Quansah looped a header over Martinez following a free kick from Harvey Elliot. The action resumed and Villa showed no sign of reluctance. Watkins thought he had pulled one back but his goal was ruled out as VAR showed that Bailey was offside during the build-up.
Villa’s persistence was rewarded in the 85th minute when Calum Chambers seized Mac Allister’s poor touch to play in Duran who fired the ball home. The score now 2-3. Four minutes later Moussa Diaby’s wayward shot bounced off Duran’s knee floating over a helpless Alisson. Two goals brought back in a span of five minutes. This draw will guarantee Aston Villa a Champion’s League spot next season if Spurs lose to Manchester City on Wednesday.
