Aston Villa 3 – 3 Liverpool Review

Villa came from behind to earn what could turn out to be an invaluable point in the race for UEFA Champions League football.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa showed their steel at Villa Park on Monday night, as they came from two goals down to draw 3 – 3 with Liverpool in what was Jurgen Klopp’s final away game in charge of the Reds. It was a fantastic match in B6, and the point gained from this contest takes Villa one step closer to a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

The point earned from this stalemate could turn out to be crucial for the fate of Aston Villa’s season with a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League at stake. Following this result, the point gained from their draw with Liverpool sees the Villans of course stay fourth, but it also means that the gap between them and top four rivals Spurs has increased to five points as of the time of writing.

Villa have just one game left to play this season, which will be on the final day on Sunday 19th May 2024 in what will be a 16:00 kick-off against an in-form Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have a game in hand, so they have two games remaining in the 2023/24 campaign to play. The first is at home to reigning Champions and title chasing Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in what will be a 20:00 kick-off on Tuesday night. They then face Sheffield United away from home at Bramall Lane on the final day.

If Spurs do get the better of City in North London, then the race for the fourth and final spot in the top four will go to the final day. However, if Tottenham drops any points due to a draw or a defeat, this will officially confirm Aston Villa’s place in the highly coveted UEFA Champions League for next season (2024/25).

It was a disastrous start for Aston Villa in the game as they went behind in the opening two minutes thanks to an own goal from Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who failed to claim the ball from a low cross before spilling the ball over the line (2’).

Following missed chances from Mohamed Salah (4’) and fellow forward Cody Gakpo (5’), Villa responded to their very early set back quickly, and with some aplomb too.

The returning Youri Tielemans found himself in acres of space just inside the box, and after receiving a great pass from Ollie Watkins, the Belgian international fired the ball into the back of the net for the equaliser. He restored parity in the match, whilst also giving Reds ‘keeper Alisson absolutely no chance of saving the shot (12’).

It was then Villa’s turn to have chances. Leon Bailey had a shot blocked shortly after the equalising goal (17’) before Ollie Watkins was then also had a shot get blocked (20’) before Bailey was denied himself again shortly after that (21’).

Unfortunately, the hosts would go on to regret their missed chances, thanks to a second goal for Liverpool just a couple of minutes later when a ball across the box found the feet of Netherlands international Cody Gakpo, who found the back of the net from close range (23’).

Aston Villa came agonisingly close to yet another equaliser later on in the first half when a ball across the box from Leon Bailey somehow evaded touches from the boots of either defender Diego Carlos or top goal scorer Ollie Watkins when it looked certain that one of them would find the back of the Liverpool net to make it 2 – 2 to equalise for the second time on the night (36’).

Both sides did have chances, but at the half time break, Villa were trailing 2 – 1 against Liverpool in this crucial game in the race for highly coveted UEFA Champions League Qualification.

The second half of this contest got off to just as bad of a start for hosts Villa as it had in the opening stages of the first half. On this occasion, a free-kick given away by Carlos ended in Reds central defender Jarrell Quansah finding the top left corner with a powerful header (48’).

Villa thought that they had halved the deficit a few moments later through Ollie Watkins. But what would have been the forward’s 20th Premier League goal of the season was ruled out for offside by the VAR officials (52’).

Then, with less than half an hour remaining, Villa came close again to a second goal of the contest, only for Moussa Diaby to narrowly miss the target following a swift counter-attack from the home side (67’).

Substitute Nicolo Zaniolo then had a chance himself, but he was denied by a stunning save from Allison. Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey then missed a couple of chances to pull a goal back in quick succession with just over twenty minutes to go (69’).

Drama then came in the final ten minutes of this match. After having a shot blocked a minute before, substitute Jhon Duran fired a low shot into the bottom right corner from just outside of the penalty area to halve the deficit (85’). There was then still plenty of time for the hosts to find what would be a crucial equaliser.

Unai Emery’s Villans did eventually find it shortly after when a lucky deflection off the knee of Duran found the back of the net after a pass was fired into the Colombian forward by Diaby (88’).

Diaby was then at the center of a great chance in second half stoppage time, when through on goal, the Frenchman forced a great save from Allison in what would have been the winning goal (90+2’). Diego Carlos then had an effort of his own blocked just a minute later (90+3’).

This incredible game then came to a close in what was a 3 – 3 draw in the end at Villa Park. This could prove to be a crucial point in Villa’s hunt for a place in the UEFA Champions League for next season.

Possession was dominated by visitors Liverpool, who had 58.8% of the ball compared to 41.2% for Aston Villa. The home side had more shots with 19, having 5 shots on target. As for Liverpool, they had 14 shots with 7 on target overall.

Following this game, Aston Villa Head Coach Unai Emery had this to say (via Aston Villa’s Official Website): “We have one match left at Crystal Palace on Sunday and we are very motivated to get there because today we had the opportunity to get three points today and we didn’t do it,” he reflected.

“We played matching Liverpool. Congratulations to them because they played very honestly and competed very well.

“We competed very well even though we played more chaotic than usual when we needed to exploit our emotions with our supporters and try to push with everything.

“We scored two goals and we drew. Even at the end, we had a chance with Moussa Diaby and the opportunity to get three points.

“I’m very proud of our supporters and how we are here, how everybody is feeling, and how we are transmitting our energy and passion with our supporters.”

The eyes of all associated with Aston Villa Football Club will be on Spurs’ game against title chasing Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night. Villa knows that UEFA Champions League Qualification could be secured on that night, but if not, this will be secured if Villa win on the final day.

Aston Villa’s final game of the 2023/24 Premier League season will see them make the trip to Selhurst Park to face Oliver Glasner’s in-form Crystal Palace with a spot in the top four at stake. This potentially crucial game will be taking place on Sunday 19th May 2024 in what will be a 16:00 kick-off that afternoon.

Excitement and anticipation are now building rapidly for the upcoming conclusion of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

There is no better way to watch world-class football than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment.