Liverpool increased their advantage in the Premier League title race to eight points following an eventful stalemate against Aston Villa. The league leaders have remained unbeaten in domestic competition since their September defeat to Nottingham Forest but struggled with defensive lapses and a lack of sharpness in front of goal.
Mohamed Salah gave the visitors the lead in the 29th minute, but goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins turned the match in Villa’s favor. Trent Alexander-Arnold restored parity early in the second half to ensure a share of the spoils. With their lead at the summit extended, Arne Slot’s side will now face Manchester City in a potentially pivotal fixture in the title race. Meanwhile, second-placed Arsenal will look to close the gap when they play West Ham before Liverpool’s showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
Aston Villa, featuring Marcus Rashford in the starting lineup for the first time since his arrival on loan, remain ninth in the standings, five points away from the top four. Rashford made a lively contribution, and his cross resulted in an own goal from Virgil van Dijk, though the effort was ruled out for offside.
Salah came close to scoring before eventually breaking the deadlock after a misplaced pass from Andres Garcia allowed Diogo Jota to set him up. However, the lead was short-lived as Tielemans pounced on a loose ball following Rashford’s free-kick. Villa then took the lead just before halftime through Watkins, who nodded in Lucas Digne’s cross. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Jota hitting the crossbar before Salah assisted Alexander-Arnold’s deflected equalizer.
Substitute Darwin Nunez squandered a golden opportunity to clinch victory, sending his shot over the bar from close range. Meanwhile, Jacob Ramsey had a late goal disallowed for offside, leaving both teams to settle for a point.
Rashford’s new chapter at Villa
All attention was on Marcus Rashford as he made his first start since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United. Having not started a match in over two months, his inclusion brought excitement and curiosity.
The forward was integral to Villa’s attacking movements in the first half, notably delivering a cross that deflected off Van Dijk into the net before being disallowed for offside. He worked hard off the ball, tracking back and making tackles, as he looked to integrate himself into Unai Emery’s system.
Understandably, Rashford was withdrawn in the second half as he builds his match fitness. Moving from Manchester United, where he has spent his entire career, to a new club has been a significant change, but his early performances suggest he is adapting well.
Villa have the option to make the move permanent for £40m, and with Rashford showing determination to overcome past struggles, he may have found a new environment where he can thrive.
Salah’s brilliance highlights Liverpool’s wastefulness
Mohamed Salah continues to break records and showcase his elite ability. His goal and assist at Villa Park took his total goal involvements for the league campaign to 39, with 24 goals and 15 assists. Remarkably, 11 Premier League clubs have scored fewer than Salah has contributed alone.
The Egyptian has joined an exclusive list of players to register at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single Premier League season, alongside Eric Cantona, Matt le Tissier, Thierry Henry, and Eden Hazard. Additionally, he became the first player in the competition’s history to both score and assist in 10 different matches within a single season. The last player to achieve such a feat in Europe’s top leagues was Lionel Messi during the 2014-15 campaign with Barcelona.
Despite Salah’s brilliance, Liverpool lacked a clinical edge. Nunez, in particular, missed a clear-cut chance that could have secured victory. While Salah’s contract situation remains unresolved, his performances continue to underline his immense value to the team.
