Two goals from Colombian substitute Jhon Duran saw Aston Villa salvage a 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Villa Park. Unai Emery's side are now five points clear of Tottenham in the race for fourth as Jurgen Klopp is denied victory in penultimate Liverpool game
Tuesday 14 May 2024 11:12, UK
Jhon Duran came off the bench to score twice and earn Aston Villa a 3-3 draw with Liverpool that all but ensures they will play Champions League football next season.
Emiliano Martinez's early own goal was the worst possible start for Villa but they equalised through Youri Tielemans only for Cody Gakpo to restore Liverpool's advantage midway through the first half. Jarell Quansah added a third early in the second.
That came after Diego Carlos produced an extraordinary miss from near the goal-line that would have levelled it, while Ollie Watkins also had one disallowed for offside. But Duran's spectacular intervention turned the tide late on to salvage a point for Unai Emery's side.
The comeback means that anything less than victory for Tottenham at home to Manchester City on Tuesday evening would mean Villa are certain of fourth. It was a dramatic if unwanted finale for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in his final away game in charge.
The Aston Villa announcer had introduced Martinez with that now customary tag as the world's No 1 but it took 62 seconds for Argentina's World Cup winner to be humbled in front of the Holte End, pushing the ball into his own net to give Liverpool the lead.
Harvey Elliott's cross deflected off Pau Torres but it should still have been straightforward for the goalkeeper. Instead, he grasped at the ball, missed, allowing it to hit his chest. In panic, he reached out to reclaim it from behind him and pushed it in. A huge error.
Mohamed Salah went close soon after but it was brilliant play from Watkins that brought Villa level. He outwitted Quansah in the left channel, pulling the ball back for Tielemans to lash in the equaliser. It was an unusually open start but that continued throughout.
It was underlined when Liverpool retook the lead, Luis Diaz finding Joe Gomes on the overlap and Gakpo tapping in the cross. It was an easy finish but so was the one at the other end that followed but Diego Carlos somehow contrived to miss that chance.
It was one for the ages, an expected-goals value of 0.99. Leon Bailey squared the ball to leave Watkins with the simple task of stroking into the vacant net but the Brazilian arrived at speed to nick it off his toe and inexplicably divert the ball wide of the far post.
Emery could not believe it and he was just as frustrated when Moussa Diaby went clean through just before half-time only to shoot high and wide of the goal. Villa paid for that profligacy immediately after the restart when Quansah put Liverpool two up.
Elliott's free-kick on the angle was lofted towards the far post and though Lucas Digne lost the defender too easily it was a spectacular climb by the young centre-back, angling his header perfectly to loop the ball beyond Martinez for his first senior goal.
Such was the nature of the contest, it did not feel over. Villa thought they had pulled one back within minutes only for Watkins' goal to be ruled out because Bailey was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up. Watkins then squandered another opening.
Elliott almost found Liverpool's fourth only to be denied by the flag and just when Villa's supporters were beginning to doubt, Alexis Mac Allister's slack touch presented Duran with the chance to set up a stunning finish. The mood inside Villa Park was transformed.
The equaliser seemed to owe as much to that momentum as any design by Duran. When Diaby rushed towards goal, his shovelled pass struck the substitute, the ball ricocheting off him to leave Alisson stranded and send the Holte End wild with delight.
Klopp could only smile at the end, serenaded by the away support despite the disappointment. But it was a fitting final home game of the season for Emery's Villa. They have confounded expectations all campaign. The Champions League now looms.
"It got away from us tonight, there is no doubt about that," Klopp told Sky Sports. "We played a really good game. One team was playing for absolutely everything and one team was playing football and wants to win the game.
"I think the character and the attitude the boys showed was outstanding. I would have loved to have won the game - Dom [Szoboszlai] had a chance in the box but when we gave away the 3-2 it was then really, really tricky. Then 3-3 and then they wanted to win."
Speaking in the press conference afterwards about the emotions of taking charge of Liverpool away from home for the final time, Klopp joked that he was more professional than he thought. "I was completely in the game," he said.
"But I appreciate so much what these boys and girls are doing. The away fans are always absolutely insane. It was a wonderful relationship, is a wonderful relationship. I always try to show my appreciation. The boys showed that as well with how many they played."
"There are some of us who have never been close to the Champions League in our life," John McGinn told Sky Sports. "The manager has a no-excuse mentality. People have written us off and we have floated under the radar. We will have our Man City tops on tomorrow."
Martinez was more succinct when addressing the supporters from the pitch. "Let's go to the Champions League, baby," he yelled. It was a more measured response from Emery, as one might expect. He preferred to focus on the final game against Crystal Palace.
Asked whether he will be watching Tottenham's game against Manchester City, Emery said: "I will analyse this game tonight and I will watch Palace. It is my only objective." He added: "Inch by inch. And still another inch to fight against Palace."
"Big Jhon is a bit nuts and is a nightmare to have in your team but he has got quality," Villa captain McGinn told Sky Sports. "We need to keep his feet on the ground over the next couple of days." When those comments were put to Emery, he elaborated.
"He is very young, 20 years old but his potential is impossible to calculate or predict," said the Villa boss. "But I believe in him."
Emery added: "Football is different in Colombia. Tactically, this is the most difficult league in the world. You have to be compact always. We are working with him a lot to be very demanding. When he is not [demanding of himself], I am pushing him.
"But I know he will score, I know he will create chances. Today, I am very happy with how he helped us."
The Premier League's final day will take place on Sunday May 19 with all games kicking off at 4pm. Aston Villa take on Crystal Palace, while Liverpool host Wolves in Jurgen Klopp's final game in charge.
It's one of the biggest sporting events in a generation. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk collide for the undisputed world heavyweight championship on Saturday May 18, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
