Liverpool failed to extend their lead over Premier League title rivals Arsenal on Wednesday evening, drawing 2-2 with Aston Villa.
The Reds took the lead early, capitalizing on a costly mistake by winter signing Andres Garcia. His misdirected pass was pounced on by Diogo Jota, who set up Mohamed Salah to score.
However, Liverpool’s advantage lasted just nine minutes as Villa equalized through Youri Tielemans, who made the most of a weak header clearance by Dominik Szoboszlai to fire a shot past Alisson.
In first-half stoppage time, Villa completed a dramatic turnaround when Ollie Watkins expertly converted Lucas Digne’s cross, leaving Liverpool with work to do in the second half to maintain their lead over second-placed Arsenal.
The Reds responded just after the hour mark when Trent Alexander-Arnold scored an equalizer, collecting Salah’s pass and driving a deflected shot beyond Emiliano Martinez.
Darwin Nunez then missed an open goal as Liverpool pushed for the win, but they had to settle for a draw, which still left them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
