SURELY they are not going to blow it. Or could Liverpool really mess this up?
To be eight points clear – despite having played a game more than Arsenal – will have been beyond Arne Slot’s wildest dreams when he took over at the start of the season.
GettyLiverpool dropped two crucial points at Villa Park[/caption]
GettyDarwin Nunez missed a golden chance to give Liverpool the win[/caption]
APAston Villa fought hard to earn themselves a result against Europe’s premier team[/caption]
But after this draw at Villa Park, and it was actually a real cracker, there will be a few worried Liverpool fans out there, fearing their team are about to deliver one almighty title choke.
Mo Salah struck his 29th goal of the season only for Villa to hit back with goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.
Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised with a deflected shot off Tyrone Mings and although both teams had their chances, and Villa came close to grabbing a winner in the 95th minute – defeat for either team would have been harsh.
So, after such a stunning season, Liverpool were always going to have a bit of a wobble and here it is.
They lost to Plymouth in the FA Cup, drew with Everton and after an unconvincing win over Wolves, failed to beat Unai Emery’s team who had not won any of their previous four Premier League games.
Whether Liverpool experience a bit of a blip or a full-scale disaster remains to be seen.
But what should be of comfort for Liverpool is that even if they do suffer a mind-blowing confidence crisis, you have to wonder whether Arsenal have what it takes to accept an open invitation to join the title race.
On recent evidence, probably not.
GettyMohamed Salah opened the scoring[/caption]
GettyYouri Tielemans equalised just nine minutes later[/caption]
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But after his team were pushed all of the way in Birmingham, Slot’s side must now prepare for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City and a home game against unpredictable Newcastle next Wednesday.
Failure to win both matches and it really will be squeaky bum time.
Equally, although they were not at their best, you have to give Villa some credit who did well after conceding early.
Marcus Rashford delivered an encouraging performance in his first start and the same applies to new arrival Marco Asensio
Yet the start was ominous for Villa as they were battered by Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk delivered a wild finish into the Holte End, Diogo Jota had a goal-bound shot blocked by Tyrone Mings and then steered a a header wide when he was completely unmarked.
Van Dijk also avoided being credited with an own goal after sticking Rashford’s cross into his own net as the Villa no 9 – following a one-two with Asensio – was clearly offside.
While this was a clear-cut decision, Villa were maybe lucky with some of Craig Pawson’s decisions.
Axel Disasi was fortunate to only receive a yellow card after lashing out at Alexis Mac Allister who seemed to get a punch in the head.
Yet Liverpool’s moaning soon stopped thanks to a real gift from Andres Garcia who passed the ball straight to Jota who had been looking lively all night.
Jota squared to Salah who, having missed an easy header a few moments earlier, lifted the ball into the net.
So, Salah’s 29th goal of the season came in the 29th minute and he will not have had an easier one this season.
Ref Pawson, though, also upset the locals by not sticking to the letter of the law. Alexander-Arnold somehow avoided a booking for delaying the restart by kicking the ball away.
GettyOllie Watkins put Villa ahead before the break with a guided header[/caption]
AFPTrent Alexander-Arnold put Liverpool back level in the second half[/caption]
Had he been watching this, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, handed a second yellow card for a more subtle nudge of the ball earlier in the season, will have been raging.
Villa responded soon after going behind. Rashford took a free-kick which he also won, and Liverpool failed in their two attempts to clear the properly.
First Ibrahima Konate did not get enough distance on a header, and then Domink Szoboszlai who, rather than stick the ball behind for a corner, nodded it towards a grateful Tielemans who volleyed a shot past Alisson.
You could see the belief that this gave Emery’s side and the second goal, in first half injury-time, was outstanding despite Liverpool’s grievances over a handball from John McGinn in the build-up.
Watkins delivered a brilliant finish with a header but he also combined superbly with Morgan Rogers in the build-up.
As Lucas Digne crossed, Watkins had timed his run from the edge of the area to a position just behind Van Dijk to meet the cross.
That goal knocked the stuffing out of Liverpool and it took them 15 minutes of the second half to sort themselves out.
Alexander-Arnold got his team level although his shot did take a deflection off the boot of Tyrone Mings just as keeper Emi Martinez had committed himself.
Although he had been playing well, Jota was substituted, and his replacement Darwin Nunez immediately missed a golden chance.
You can see why he infuriates Liverpool fans.
The Uruguayan blazed over from no more than seven yards out with the goal at his mercy. A goal that would have put one hand on the Premier League trophy for Liverpool.
With nine minutes left, Jacob Ramsey delivered a calm finish beyond Alisson but he was offside. Then deep into stoppage time, sub Donyell Malen was a whisker away from scoring a dramatic winner.
Only a point for Slot – but it could have been much worse. And the money is still surely on Liverpool to wrap this title up.
Darwin Nunez missed a golden opportunity to give the Red the lead
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