Aston Villa – Liverpool 3–3
Two late goals from Jhon Durán ruined the evening for Liverpool.
After the goal, the TV pictures showed that Aston Villa supporter and film star Tom Hanks burst into wild jubilation.
– It is an important goal. Tom Hanks will like it, commented former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison at the BBC.
BIG STAR: Tom Hanks saw his favorite team fight back against Liverpool. Photo: Carl Recine
The score means Aston Villa are five points ahead of Tottenham, who have a game less to play. The London club will face Manchester City on their own turf tomorrow.
– We will be wearing Manchester City kits tomorrow, Aston Villa captain John McGinn told Sky Sports.
The Liverpool camp, for their part, were disappointed after the collapse.
– They got the equaliser, and I don’t know how it happened. We wanted to win the game. When we conceded the 2-3 goal it became very difficult, says Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp after the match
TAKE OFF: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery after the 3-3 scoring. Photo: Martin Rickett
Giant roar from the goalkeeper star
Liverpool got off to a dream start in Jürgen Klopp’s penultimate game as Liverpool manager.
A gigantic blunder from star goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (31) gave Liverpool the lead after only two minutes.
Salah and Elliott combined well, before the Argentine last chance fumbled the ball into his own goal.
– Martinez will think about it throughout the match. It is probably one of his worst mistakes as a goalkeeper, commented former Arsenal player and Sky Sports expert Alan Smith.
Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters / NTB Read more
Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters / NTB Read more
Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters / NTB Read more
But Unai Emery’s men, in the Champions League hunt, hit back ten minutes later. Youri Tielemans equalized for the home team with an icy finish.
Temptation: – Kills the joy
However, Cody Gakpo and Liverpool were strong going forward. Halfway through the first half, the Dutchman converted a cross from Joe Gomez.
After the goal, a long VAR check followed where two possible offside situations were looked at. After over three minutes, the goal was approved.
– That is what is so frustrating about VAR: It kills the joy. Both with regard to the stoppage in the game and the fact that the players cannot celebrate, pointed out Theo Walcott at the BBC.
TOOK TIME: Referee Simon Hooper awaits a VAR decision. Photo: Andrew Boyers / Reuters / NTB
– Incredible
The first half waved back and forth, and the home team had a huge opportunity after 35 minutes. Midfielder Diego Carlos missed an open goal.
– It is incredible that there is no goal. Carlos’ touch doesn’t just miss the mark – it stops Watkins from scoring. They can’t believe it, says Smith of the Villa duo after the giant boom.
Photo: Andrew Boyers / Reuters / NTB Read more
Photo: Andrew Boyers / Reuters / NTB Read more
Photo: Andrew Boyers / Reuters / NTB Read more
This meant that the teams went into the break with a score of 2–1 to Liverpool. Right after the break, however, stopper talent Jarell Quansah (19) increased the lead with a header.
It was the 19-year-old’s first goal in a Liverpool shirt.
INCREASED MANAGEMENT: Jarell Quansah. Photo: Rui Vieira / AP Photo / NTB
Not long after the stopper’s goal, top scorer Ollie Watkins thought he had reduced Emery’s men.
But after a VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside. Soon after, Salah put in what he thought was the 4-1 scoreline, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Five minutes before the end, Jhon Durán ignited hope for Villa after Alexis MacAllister gave the ball away.
Immediately afterwards, the same man equalized to make it 3–3. That was the end result.
Foto: Andrew Boyers