Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool: Salah stars again

Mohamed Salah scored and set up Trent Alexander-Arnold for a goal in an engaging 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday.

MORE – Aston Villa v Liverpool full match replay

Liverpool led 1-0 but gave up goals to Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins, requiring Alexander-Arnold’s second-half equalizer to get a point as Darwin Nunez and the Reds attackers flubbed multiple big chances to produce three points away from home.

MORE — Van Dijk, Slot react to draw

The Reds do run their Premier League table lead to eight points but have now played one more game than their would-be title contenders.

Villa remain in ninth place, their 39 points behind Fulham on goal differential.

Mohamed Salah is (again) in Ballon d’Or form

Only five players have more than 17 goal contributions in the Premier League this season. Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has 17 more than anyone else. The Egyptian’s 24 goals and 15 assists both lead the league, something he’s done before back in 2021-22, but here’s what’s new — Salah’s best full season for goal contributions was 42. He scored 32 times to set a PL record in 2017-18 and assisted 13 others. He’s three away from that career-best and there are 11 games to play. If it was possible for Salah to have more power in contract negotiations, he’s done it. The 32-year-old is on fire and may well fire Liverpool to a title in their first year without Jurgen Klopp. While they clearly liked each other, Salah won’t mind being the spotlit man on a title-capturing Liverpool.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool player ratings

(from fotmob.com)

Aston Villa vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)

What’s next?

Villa host Chelsea at 12:30pm ET Saturday before visiting Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Liverpool’s gauntlet continues with an 11:30am Sunday trip to Manchester City, then a Wednesday visit from Newcastle.

How to watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday (February 19)Venue: Villa Park — BirminghamTV Channel: USAStreaming: Watch live on NBC.com

Aston Villa vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola

Aston Villa vs Liverpool final score: 2-2

Mohamed Salah 30', Youri Tielemans 38', Ollie Watkins 45+3', Trent Alexander-Arnold 61'

Liverpool sub

Luis Diaz takes the place of Alexis Mac Allister as Liverpool seek a winner.

2-2, 81'.

Goalkeeper heroics

At both ends.

First, Alisson denies Donyell Malen was close range (though the flag was up and it looks unlikely to be worthy of getting help from review).

Then it’s a bad play by Mings that appears to open up a long drive toward goal for Darwin Nunez, but the Uruguayan is stopped by a charging, sliding Martinez. 2-2, 76'.

Ridiculous miss for Liverpool

A second awful miss of the game for the Reds after an unmentioned Jota slice in the first half.

This time it’s Darwin Nunez, who gets the ball rolled onto a plate for him.

The Uruguayan is put off by a sliding Villan and mails it over the empty goal.

70'.

Subs

Both sides make moves for the final 25 minutes or so.

Jota and Alexander-Arnold make way for Liverpool entries Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley.

Villa’s changes see Rashford, Asensio, and Garcia off for Jacob Ramsey, Donyell Malen, and Matty Cash.

Trent Alexander-Arnold goal — Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool (61st mintue)

Salah gets the ball on the right wing and keeps the ball through the sliding challenge of Digne.

The Egyptian gives the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold outside the 18, who hits a low shot off the bottom of Tyrone Mings’ dipping shin to redirect behind a diving Martinez.

2-2.

Ollie Watkins goal — Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool (45+3')

Rashford works a clever 1-2 with Lucas Digne on the left, and the latter sends a cross into the mix.

Ollie Watkins darts just past the penalty spot and pushes a header past Allison.

Youri Tielemans goal — Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool (38th minute)

A knuckling high ball across goal can only be nodded so far from goal by Dominik Szoboszlai.

Youri Tielemans bounds the partial clearance past Alisson and we’re level.

Mohamed Salah goal — Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool (30th minute)

Tough mistake from Andres Garcia, whose back pass sends Diogo Jota toward the Villa goal.

Jota sets up Salah for a straight-forward goal and the Egyptian’s assault on the Golden Boot leaderboard moves to 24.

Danger at both ends

Villa have the ball in the goal via a clever 1-2 between newcomers Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, but the former’s goal will not stand as he was offside.

We head to the other end, where Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez darts off his line to close down Dominik Szoboszlai and smother a good chance.

0-0, 21.

Early looks favor the visitors

There have been three shots in the first nine minutes, all in favor of Liverpool.

Villa have gotten on the ball a little bit but are dealing with a hard press from the visiting Reds.

0-0, 11'.

Aston Villa lineup

Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne, Asensio, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford, Rogers, Watkins

Liverpool lineup

Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jota, Salah

Aston Villa vs Liverpool preview — By Joe Prince-Wright

It gives Arne Slot’s side the chance to extend their lead atop the table to 10 points, albeit they will have played a game more than nearest challengers Arsenal.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa coughed up two points at home at the weekend as they couldn’t get past Ipswich Town who had been reduced to 10 players in the first half. Marcus Rashford made a big difference off the bench and could start against Liverpool, with the headline writers already prepping for the on-loan Manchester United forward to score against Liverpool. Villa are pushing for European qualification once again but a lot of their focus will switch to the FA Cup and Champions League last 16 over the month.

As for Liverpool, they got the job done at home against Wolves on Sunday but their 2-1 win wasn’t pretty or particularly comfortable. It started well but Wolves scored in the second half and Liverpool hung on late on when it looked like they could cough up another win to drop more points in the title race. The pressure is on but Slot’s side are navigating it. Just.

Aston Villa team news, focus

Defensive injuries are piling up for Emery but two of Konsa, Mings and Disasi could start at center back. Both Rashford and Marco Asensio were very sharp off the bench on Saturday and are pushing for a start. If Emery also starts with Rogers and Watkins in attack, that is a very dangerous quartet.

OUT: Pau Torres (ankle), Ross Barkley (calf), Amadou Onana (thigh), Boubacar Kamara (small injury) | QUESTIONABLE: Ezri Konsa (other), Leon Bailey (small pain), Matty Cash (muscular)

Liverpool team news, focus

Slot will likely roll out the same team that started against Wolves, but Darwin Nunez could start in place of Diogo Jota in attack. Cody Gakpo is out with a knock, while there is the possibility Curtis Jones could start in midfield ahead of Alexis Mac Allister. Slot hasn’t been scared to rotate even more but given the poor performance of a lot of fringe players at Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup recently, he may stick with his regulars and see how the game pans out.

QUESTIONABLE: Joe Gomez (thigh - MORE), Cody Gakpo (knock)

Aston Villa vs Liverpool prediction

This feels like a game where Villa will start fast and grab a goal and then make it very tough for Liverpool. Of course, Liverpool’s quality and balance will show in the end, especially with Villa’s defensive injuries. Go for an entertaining draw. Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool.