Liverpool missed the chance to move 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League but avoided defeat as Aston Villa battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw and hand hope to title race challenges Arsenal.
The leaders were gifted the opening goal as defender Andres Garcia passed straight to Diogo Jota and the forward squared to Mohamed Salah for his 24th goal of the season.
But Arne Slot’s side did not hold their advantage for long as they failed to clear a free-kick and Youri Tielemans thrashed in a volley to draw Unai Emery’s team level.
And Liverpool switched off again as they appealed for a handball on John McGinn, only to see Ollie Watkins ghost into the box to head in on the stroke of half-time.
Ibrahima Konate was forced to clear off the line as Marcus Rashford, on his first Aston Villa start, skipped past Alisson to shoot from out wide before Liverpool drew level.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot beat Emi Martinez as Liverpool then chased victory, with substitute Darwin Nunez blazing a golden chance over the crossbar. At the other end, Donyell Malen flashed a low shot past the post at the death.
But Liverpool’s second away draw in a row, after the Merseyside derby, opens the door to Arsenal - who would close Liverpool’s lead to five points if they beat West Ham on Saturday.
Follow all the Premier League action with our live blog below:
Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE
- FULL TIME! Liverpool extend Premier League lead to eight points with 2-2 draw
- 90+5' CLOSE! Villa almost win it as Malen's shot goes just wide (AVL 2-2 LIV)
- 69' MISS! Darwin Nunez wastes golden chance after coming on (AVL 2-2 LIV)
- 61' GOAL! Alexander-Arnold's strike deflects past Martinez for equaliser (AVL 2-2 LIV)
- 45+2 GOAL! Watkins heads Villa in front amid complaints for handball (AVL 2-1 LIV)
- 38' GOAL! Tielemans thrashes in after Liverpool fail to clear cross (AVL 1-1 LIV)
- 29' GOAL! Jota squares to Salah to finish after Villa giva ball away (AVL 0-1 LIV)
- 16' NO GOAL! Rashford offside as Van Dijk turns ball into own net (AVL 0-0 LIV)
Aston Villa FC 2 - 2 Liverpool FC
Are Liverpool wobbling?
23:15 , Jamie BraidwoodThe records will show that Liverpool now have one win in their last four games - when the FA Cup defeat to Plymouth is considered.
But their two Premier League draws, against Everton at Goodison and Aston Villa at Villa Park, could be classed as a “good point” in a normal title race.
On Sunday, Liverpool go to Manchester City and then host Newcastle on Wednesday. If they pick up four points from those games, then they will still be in a very good position.
Liverpool’s fixtures compared to Arsenal’s as title race heats up
Arne Slot explains Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota subs
22:46 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool’s tails were up when Alexander-Arnold equalised but both he and Jota were replaced shortly afterwards, but Slot says it was pre-planned given they have recently returned from injury lay-offs.
“For months, Jota almost hasn't been available. He could only play 60 today, same as Trent and that is why we had to make those substitutions. I would love to keep them in the team but we have to play Sunday and Wednesday again and you saw with Conor Bradley how much of a risk it is. But Jota and Trent played good games."
Who deserved to win?
22:31 , Jamie BraidwoodArne Slot said Liverpool “deserved” to win on the balance of play.
"The pressure is always on you if you are Liverpool,” he tells TNT Sports. “It matters where we are in the league table but the pressure is always on if you are Liverpool. We have all the ingredients to achieve success this season. There have been a lot of games this season where I have felt if one team deserved to win it was us.”
Unai Emery does not quite agree.
“You have to wait your moment to attack and get chances like we had,” he tells TNT. “We did. We were more or less competing well and we came back in the first half. When you are winning like that, it's Liverpool and they can score like they did. We came close to scoring in the final minute. We had more options to win in the final 20 minutes.”
'There is one person in the dressing room that feels quite down'
22:14 , Jamie BraidwoodArne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports, says Liverpool were close to playing a “very, very good game” but were let down by their missed chances against Aston Villa.
"Not so happy, to be honest. We created far more chances than them and created chances to win. But we also conceded from a set piece.
"If you are 1-0 down it is far from easy. Their second chance was a goal, was a cross, but they may have won it in the final moments but when you put all the chances together, I am not happy with the 2-2.
"They lost a very good striker but brought in two new ones in the winter break. It is a difficult one because of the team they have the support they have from the fans.
“If you look at the chances we had to win the game, you can understand that there is one person in the dressing room that feels quite down. I think you know who it is."
I think that’s Nunez...
The Darwin Nunez miss that Liverpool may regret in Premier League title race
21:58 , Pete Hall, at Villa ParkTen points clear with 12 games to go would have almost certainly put Liverpool, without a completely convincing title rival, on course for a second Premier League title before February is even out.
But Darwin’s gonna Darwin - Nunez has had a telling contribution in several Liverpool victories this term, but that penchant for the most calamitous misses never ceases to amaze.
The Uruguayan missed 27 big chances last term, but few as glaring as the one that could, and should, have earned Liverpool victory that had the potential to end the title race as a contest.
The Darwin Nunez miss that Liverpool may regret in Premier League title race
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:44 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool have still not lost away from home in the Premier League this season - or anywhere since September in the top-flight.
Arne Slot is unhappy at conceding from a set-piece tonight and says Liverpool deserved to win tonight given the chances his side had.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:40 , Jamie BraidwoodVirgil van Dijk, speaking to TNT Sports, says Liverpool are “disappointed” with a draw at Villa Park after having chances to win the game.
"We should have scored 3-2, but credit to Aston Villa, they made it very difficult,” the Liverpool captain says. “We have a very tough one on the weekend again [at the Etihad], then we play Newcastle.
“Our focus now will be on Man City, a very difficult game, we know that. Do everything in your power to win games, the focus will be that on Sunday again."
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:36 , Jamie BraidwoodSo Aston Villa have still not beaten Liverpool since that 7-2 win in October 2020, but they’ll take a point against the Premier League leaders. The frustration for Unai Emery’s side is they can turn up against the big boys but struggle against the sides they should be beating - such as Ipswich on Saturday.
They stay ninth with a point - but just four points off fifth-placed Bournemouth. It’s tight in there.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:32 , Jamie Braidwood“We take a point and move on,” says Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. I’ll take his word for it.
Liverpool head to Manchester City on Sunday - a place they’ve not won in the Premier League since 2015.
Before then, Arsenal could have cut their lead to five points as they host West Ham on Saturday.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:30 , Jamie BraidwoodA good point for Liverpool? Two points dropped? Or somewhere in between? As the dust settles, what we know is the Reds are now eight clear of Arsenal. They led, trailed, and then found an equaliser against a Villa side who were up for the fight.
Both teams could have won it late on, with Nunez missing a golden chance and Malen shooting just wide.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:26 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd breathe. A proper battle at Villa Park. Thrilling.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:25 , Jamie Braidwood90+5 mins: CLOSE! OH MY GOODNESS! Liverpool let out a huge sigh of relief as Malen breaks to the edge of the box and flashes a shot just wide of Alisson’s post.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:24 , Jamie Braidwood90+4 mins: Tielemans is given the TV’s man of the match. Good choice.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:24 , Jamie Braidwood90+3 mins: Cash flies forward and strikes at goal - it loops up but is saved by Alisson.
Salah thinks he’s won a corner at the other end but a goal-kick is awarded.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:22 , Jamie Braidwood90+2 mins: Tielemans will take it. The ball gets stuck with Mings... it breaks to Rogers but he blasts over the bar from the inside left!
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:21 , Jamie Braidwood90 mins: We’re into five minutes of added time. Liverpool found a late winner here the last time they lifted the league in 2019/20 - can they find another or will it be Villa? They have a corner.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:19 , Jamie Braidwood89 mins: Frustration for Liverpool and Salah as his cross is overhit. Liverpool have not created much since that Nunez miss.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:18 , Jamie Braidwood87 mins: Liverpool and Aston Villa are deciding whether to stick or twist. But the Reds have a blow as Conor Bradley is down. He has also recently come back from a hamstring injury. Looks as if he felt something there.
Jarell Quansah is on.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:15 , Jamie Braidwood84 mins: That is excellent play from Villa to take on the full Liverpool press and play out from their own box. Gutsy. Konate stops the attack at the other end.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:13 , Jamie Braidwood83 mins: Van Dijk is forward as Liverpool win a corner - and then another as Szoboszlai strikes off Rogers. The referee blows for a foul of McGinn from Konate. Salah strikes against the upright but the whistle had gone.
NO GOAL !Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:11 , Jamie Braidwood81 mins: Aston Villa have the ball in the net but Ramsey is flagged offside! It’s tight but it looks as if Robertson and Bradley just managed to step up in time. Good finish from Ramsey.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:10 , Jamie Braidwood79 mins: Van Dijk wins a couple of big headers and then Alisson claims before sparking the counter-attack! Salah makes the run and breaks into the box. He pulls it back to Nunez but he gets it horribly, horribly wrong looking for Szoboszlai. Straight out.
Luis Diaz is on, replacing Mac Allister. Szoboszlai will drop back.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:07 , Jamie Braidwood77 mins: End to end stuff as Rogers marches forward and slips in Malen, who is forced wide by Robertson but comes away from with a corner. Maatsen is on for Digne.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:05 , Jamie Braidwood75 mins: Another huge moment! Suddenly Nunez is bearing through on goal after a heavy touch from Mings but Martinez is so sharp off his line and wins the tackle as Nunez tried to knock it past him. Let off for Villa!
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:04 , Jamie Braidwood74 mins: Nervy moments for Liverpool as the newly introduced Ramsey gets past Bradley and Konate fails to clear. It almost breaks to Malen but Liverpool scramble away.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
21:01 , Jamie Braidwood70 mins: Alisson delivers for Liverpool again as he stands up tall and saves against Malen, who was played in down the right. The flag went up but Malen was onside. Big save.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
20:59 , Jamie Braidwood69 mins: WHAT A MISS! WHAT A CHANCE! Liverpool slice Villa apart as Bradley finds Szoboszlai, who squares to Nunez. He just needs to keep his foot over the ball but Nunez blasts horribly over the bar under the challenge of Disasi, who roars as if he has scored a goal.
The Liverpool bench can’t believe it.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
20:58 , Jamie Braidwood66 mins: Changes for Liverpool. Bradley and Nunez replace Alexander-Arnold and Jota. Alexander-Arnold does not look too pleased but Liverpool do go to Manchester City on Sunday amid a run of five games in 15 days. And he’s just back from injury.
Cash and Malen are also on for Villa. Rashford and Garcia make way.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool
20:55 , Jamie Braidwood63 mins: Liverpool’s tails are up. There are more chances after Alexander-Arnold’s equaliser. Salah and Szoboszlai exchange passes in the box but Szoboszlai’s shot is blocked. From the corner, it almost falls to Jota but Martinez garthers.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool (ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 61')
20:51 , Jamie BraidwoodLIVERPOOL ARE LEVEL!
It’s a sucker-punch after Van Dijk robbed the ball from Watkins - Liverpool flew forward and Alexander-Arnold led the charge. Salah nips past Digne and it’s worked inside to Alexander-Arnold.
He strikes it sweetly, but the shot takes a wicked deflection off Mings that beats Martinez. Alexander-Arnold heads straight back to his own half. Liverpool want to win this.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:50 , Jamie Braidwood59 mins: OFF THE BAR! So close from Jota. He takes a touch out of his feet and the edge of the box and cracks a dipping effort. It drops suddenly to crash against the woodwork. I don’t think Martinez was getting there.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:48 , Jamie Braidwood56 mins: Half of a chance for Liverpool as the ball is quickly played forward to Szoboszlai and the midfielder hits it first time - it takes a touch on its way through to Martinez.
Mings, meanwhile, is limping. Villa are short of centre-backs as it is.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:47 , Jamie Braidwood55 mins: From Mac Allister’s second corner, Robertson heads over from the front post.
Luis Diaz is warming up for Liverpool.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:46 , Jamie Braidwood54 mins: The Liverpool corner will have to be retaken as Konate pushing McGinn who falls into Martinez, who goes down.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:45 , Jamie Braidwood53 mins: A spell of sustained pressure now from Liverpool. Villa have dropped five yards or so deeper.
Salah’s cross is headed behind by Rogers.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:43 , Jamie Braidwood52 mins: Excellent work from Tielemans to get back and tackle Salah after a Villa attack broke down. The Belgian is tireless and leads the energy of Emery’s team so well.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:41 , Jamie Braidwood50 mins: CHANCE! Almost a disaster for Liverpool and Alisson. Rashford is played through down the left wing and the goalkeeper comes for it. But Rashford gets there first and skips past him!
Thankfully for him, Konate is on the line to clear Rashford’s shot. The angle was very tight.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:40 , Jamie Braidwood49 mins: Poor from Liverpool as Watkins presses Alisson and his pass towards Robertson goes out of play.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:38 , Jamie Braidwood47 mins: Mac Allister draws a foul from Asensio, giving Van Dijk and Konate the chance to go forward.
Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:36 , Jamie BraidwoodBack underway at Villa Park. No changes at half time.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:33 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool are the only team in English league football who are yet to lose away from home this season - that record is on the line in this second half.
Arsenal fans will be watching on with interest, too.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:27 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool were second best after being gifted the opening goal. They switched off defensively in two situations, the first conceding from a set-piece they were unable to clear and Tielemans thrashed in, and then waiting for a free-kick for handball and failing to stop the cross from the left. Watkins was left with a free header.
Great run from Watkins and cross from Digne, though.
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HALF TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
20:20 , Jamie BraidwoodWhat a half of football - Liverpool led but the leaders head into the break behind!
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool (WATKINS 45+2')
20:18 , Jamie BraidwoodWOW VILLA HAVE TURNED IT AROUND - BUT LIVERPOOL ARE NOT HAPPY!
Liverpool stopped, asking for a free-kick when the ball hits McGinn’s hand following a tussle with Jota.
And Liverpool don’t wake up from there. Villa are given the freedom of the pitch to attack down the left.
The ball is swung into the box and finds Watkins, who plants a beautiful header past Allison and into the far corner.
Liverpool are furious that the McGinn handball wasn’t given.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:16 , Jamie Braidwood45 mins: Three minutes added on. Villa have the ball in line with Liverpool’s box with the Digne throw in.
Liverpool had the chance to break but Salah could not find Jota, who had strayed offside anyway.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:15 , Jamie Braidwood43 mins: Liverpool’s lead lasted less than 10 minutes - they’ve given away a lot of free-kicks around their box and Villa are good from set-pieces.
There’s a good flowing feel to this match, though. Just a few moments to go now before half time.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:12 , Jamie Braidwood41 mins: CLOSE! You can hear the nerves from the Villa fans when they try and play out from defence. They get it wrong again and the ball breaks to Jones, who shoots across Martinez but wide of the far post.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
20:10 , Jamie Braidwood39 mins: HUGE chance! Now Liverpool should be back in front! Jota is released but somehow puts his shot 10 yards wide of the post! Awful finish as he opened is body and looked for the far corner.
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool (TIELEMANS 39')
20:08 , Jamie BraidwoodAND VILLA ARE LEVEL!
It’s scrappy but they strike from the set-piece! McGinn keeps it alive to nod it back across, Mings challenges and Szoboszlai clears but it only falls to Tielemans, who volleys in!
We knew there would be goals! Tielemans loves a big one, too.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
20:07 , Jamie Braidwood35 mins: Mac Allister was down for Liverpool but he’s back up - only to immediately foul Rashford. It’s good from Rashford, who nutmegs Mac Allister, who slips and fouls him. Free kick for Villa in a decent position.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
20:06 , Jamie Braidwood34 mins: Just the 15 goals for Salah in the Premier League this season already - and that’s AWAY from home.
He’s up to 24 in total - five clear of Erling Haaland now.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
20:03 , Jamie Braidwood31 mins: The game’s first shot on target. Salah won’t get an easier goal all season.
It wasn’t as if it hadn’t been coming, though. Villa had been shaky playing all from the early stages.
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool (SALAH 29')
19:59 , Jamie BraidwoodGUESS WHO?! Aston Villa you cannot give Mohamed Salah a chance like that!
It’s a disaster for Andrés García, who passed straight to Jota as Villa opened up. Jota is able to carry into the box and squares to Salah, who fires high into an empty net.
Liverpool lead and it’s an absolute gift!
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:58 , Jamie Braidwood27 mins: Robertson has the full left wing to cover on his own for Liverpool but does well to race around the edge of the box. It’s pulled back to Mac Allister, but the Argentine’s shot is blocked by Disasi.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:56 , Jamie Braidwood24 mins: McGinn gets an important touch in the Villa box as Jota looked to bring the ball down and volley.
Then Robertson picks out Salah at the back post. but the league’s top scorer can’t keep his header down.
That’s a chance! It sails over the bar.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:54 , Jamie Braidwood22 mins: Mac Allister goes down in the box with Liverpool defending a free-kick and a yellow card for Disasi explains why. It looks as if the centre-back just caught Mac Allister with a loose arm, and Liverpool get the free-kick.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:50 , Jamie Braidwood19 mins: CHANCE! Another lovely move, this time from Liverpool. Szoboszlai is gently slipped through but Martinez is so quick off his line and saves as Szoboszlai looked to chip it back across to Jota.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:49 , Jamie Braidwood18 mins: At the other end, a couple of moments for Liverpool. Jones is put through but Mings recovers to poke the ball clear, with Martinez also coming off his line.
Then Jota is picked out but his volley, on the left foot, is dragged wide.
NO GOAL! Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:47 , Jamie Braidwood16 mins: SUPERB from Rashford - the ball is in the net but the flag is also up. Let’s see.
Yep, offside. Rashford exchanged a one-two with Asensio and flashed the ball across goal, going in off Van Dijk’s leg.
But Rashford was a touch offside. Still a sharp move though.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:46 , Jamie Braidwood16 mins: Van Dijk tries to pick out Szoboszlai with a long pass over the top but it’s beyond the Hungarian.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:45 , Jamie Braidwood14 mins: Villa take it short to get Rashford to deliver the ball with his lovely, pacey whip from the left. It’s too close to Alisson, though, and he claims.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:44 , Jamie Braidwood12 mins: Szoboszlai drags down Tielemans and Villa have a free-kick 35 yards out. Konate heads away Asensio’s cross before Alisson punches the next ball in from Garcia.
Villa with a decent spell and they win a corner as Disasi, of all people, gets to the byline. Konate gets out and makes the block.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:42 , Jamie Braidwood10 mins: Gravenberch turns wonderfully from a throw-in but the play breaks down as Jones attempts a flick. Jones is tucking in at times as Jota goes out wide - it’s a lot more fluid than usual when Diaz is out on the wing.
At the other end, Rashford steps inside but Konate reads his pass into Watkins. Rashford looks lively, as does this game.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:38 , Jamie Braidwood7 mins: Villa get their first chance to attack as Rogers turns well. Alexander-Arnold can nick the ball away from Rashford and Konate clears. Villa are playing a dangerous game but they are trying to draw in Liverpool before quickly flowing through them.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:36 , Jamie Braidwood5 mins: A fine start from Liverpool and Villa can’t get out. Salah pulls a pass back to Jota, whose shot is blocked by Mings.
Another chance! McGinn plays out poorly and loses the ball - Alexander-Arnold clips another cross in and finds Jota, but he heads wide.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:34 , Jamie Braidwood3 mins: CHANCE! Liverpool work the corner wonderfully. They played it around the box and Alexander-Arnold clips a through ball with the outside of his box. It falls to Van Dijk but the captain blasts over on the volley.
Villa give away another corner poorly as they try to play out from the goal-kick.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:33 , Jamie Braidwood2 mins: A pause as Robertson’s cross from the left hits Garcia in a sensitive area. It will bring a first corner of the match to Liverpool.
Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:32 , Jamie Braidwood1 mins: So who’s playing on the left wing for Liverpool? It looks like Curtis Jones, back in the team after his red card against Everton. Dominik Szoboszlai is down the middle, behind Jota.
KICK OFF! Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
19:31 , Jamie BraidwoodUnderway! A huge night in the title race in Birmingham.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE
19:28 , Jamie BraidwoodThe players are coming out of the tunnel - it’s a night game at Villa Park and the Premier League leaders are in town, so it should be a cracking atmosphere.
This fixture usually delivers, too: the last seven Premier League meetings between these teams at Villa Park have produced a total of 33 goals, that’s an average of almost five per game.
For Liverpool, a win puts them 10 points clear of Arsenal in the title race. Aston Villa need a win themselves to get back into Champions League contention. They don’t want this season’s run to be a one-off.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Team news and how to watch!
19:26 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa XI: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne, Asensio, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Bogarde, Maatsen, Malen, Ramsey; Jimoh-Aloba.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai, Jota, Salah
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Díaz, Núñez, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
The match will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 - subscribers can also watch online via discovery+.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Expect goals tonight
19:20 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa have just kept three clean sheets in 25 games this season, while Liverpool have scored in their last 21 matches - including 15 in a row away from home.
Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, has already been involved in more away goal involvements in a season than any other player in Premier League history.
The Egyptian has 23, with 14 goals and nine assists, away from home in this season’s Premier League - a record for a single season and it’s only February.
Marcus Rashford set for Trent Alexander-Arnold duel
19:15 , Jamie BraidwoodAn intriguing sub-plot of tonight’s game is Marcus Rashford’s duel with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his first Aston Villa start. He faced the Liverpool right back plenty of times, getting the better of his England team-mate on a couple of occasions at Old Trafford, although Alexander-Arnold was usually in charge at Anfield.
Nike release remake of iconic Premier League ball for rest of season
19:10 , Jamie BraidwoodStarting tonight, the Premier League will use a remake of a classic Nike football for the rest of the current season.
Nike have released a new version of the T90 Aerow I, which was used during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons and became iconic for it’s blue rings surrounding the Nike swoosh on a white background.
It will make its debut on Wednesday night when league leaders Liverpool travel to Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and will be the final ball created for the Premier League by Nike.
Having designed the footballs for the English top tier for the past 25 years, Nike will be replaced by Puma as the official ball supplier from the 2025-26 season, so they’ve decided to go out in style.
Unai Emery: 'We have to respond against the best in the world'
19:04 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports ahead of facing what he calls the “best in the world”.
“[Rashford and Asensio] are adapting, getting better.
“We have players injured and today we have [Mings and Disasi] at centre-back and hopefully they can connect and both be successful. They have strong qualities as defensive players and then we will try to play with personality and control possession.
"It is a really huge challenge and I want to watch how we respond against Liverpool, the best in the world. Today the challenge is really on the pitch."
Aston Villa's recent record against Liverpool
19:00 , Jamie BraidwoodYou can’t look ahead to Liverpool travelling to Aston Villa without mentioning the 7-2... but that famous victory for Villa against the reigning Premier League champions in October 2020 was their last victory over the Reds.
They have drawn three and lost six of the nine games they have played since, while Liverpool winning three of their last four trips to Villa Park. The only draw came last season, when Villa come from behind to claim a 3-3 draw that secured Champions League football.
Arne Slot: 'We are facing a lot of threat and great individual players'
18:55 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool manager Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports,
“We faced [attacking threat] that against Wolves and we are facing that tonight, again, with some great individual players.
"It is an evening game at Villa Park which is a difficult one and the only thing we need to do is compete and bring our level too.
"These are two teams with a lot of threat so there needs to be a lot of work rate too, to make sure the other team doesn't score."
Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures - Liverpool or Arsenal?
18:50 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool enter a crucial week in the Premier League title race in what is shaping up to be a nervy battle between the Reds and Arsenal.
Liverpool remain in a strong position despite the “mayhem” of their Merseyside derby draw against Everton, with the Reds closing in on just a second league title in 35 years in manager Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield.
A calamitous campaign from reigning champions Manchester City looked to have opened the door for last year’s runners-up Arsenal, but the Gunners have endured a difficult season with injuries hitting Mikel Arteta’s squad hard.
There is still plenty of time for Arsenal to hunt Liverpool down, but the title race appears to be entering a decisive stretch of fixtures up until the March international break.
Liverpool’s fixtures compared to Arsenal’s as title race heats up
Arne Slot heaps praise on Marcus Rashford
18:42 , Jamie BraidwoodIn his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot reserved praise for Manchester United’s on-loan forward Marcus Rashford, who is showing signs of finding form despite Aston Villa’s frustrating 1-1 draw with 10-man Ipswich on Saturday.
Rashford has been handed his first start of his loan spell against United’s rivals and Slot said he expects to see his quality. In his 19 games against Liverpool as a United player, Rashford scored seven goals (including five in the Premier League) but won just four games.
“He’s a very good player, I hope for him he shows it at Villa but of course, not tomorrow,” Slot said on Tuesday. “I would be completely surprised if a player of this quality isn’t going to show it in the upcoming months. He’s a very good player in my opinion.”
Liverpool's five games in 15 days
18:42 , Jamie BraidwoodJust the one change from Arne Slot, as Liverpool play the third of five games in just 15 days. They go to Manchester City on Sunday before hosting Newcastle this time next week. It’s a tiring, testing run for the league leaders and could be pivotal to their title chances.
Wed 12th Feb: 2-2 vs Everton (A)
Sun 16th Feb: 2-1 vs Wolves (H)
Wed 19th Feb: vs Aston Villa (A)
Sun 23rd Feb: vs Man City (A)
Wed 26th Feb: vs Newcastle (H)
Liverpool team news - no Luis Diaz or Darwin Nunez in XI
18:25 , Jamie BraidwoodAn interesting line-up from Liverpool, with Luis Diaz on the bench despite the injury to Cody Gakpo. Curtis Jones returns from suspension, but Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai all keep their places from the weekend.
So who’s playing left wing? It’s looking like Szoboszlai, but it’s an interesting change from Arne Slot, with Diaz and Darwin Nunez on the bench.
Aston Villa team news - Marcus Rashford starts
18:23 , Jamie BraidwoodMarcus Rashford makes his first start for Aston Villa following appearances off the bench against Tottenham and Ipswich, with the on-loan Manchester United forward lining up against rivals Liverpool.
Former Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio also starts against Liverpool, coming into a midfield that includes John McGinn and Youri Tielemans. Rashford joins Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers in an all-English attack.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool confirmed line-ups
18:19 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa XI: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne, Asensio, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Bogarde, Maatsen, Malen, Ramsey; Jimoh-Aloba.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai, Jota, Salah
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Díaz, Núñez, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
Reminder of the early team news
18:09 , Jamie BraidwoodWe’ll have the line-ups from Villa Park in the next few minutes, here’s a reminder of the early team news:
Unai Emery has one more new injury concern, with Boubacar Kamara forced off just 16 minutes into the draw with Ipswich at the weekend. He will likely face a late fitness test.
Ezri Konsa is unlikely to be back in time to face Liverpool, while Pau Torres and Matty Cash remain sidelined in defence and Amadou Onana is still some time away from a return. Ollie Watkins should be fit to start again, while Leon Bailey could return to the squad.
Cody Gakpo will not feature but is nearing a return after missing the win over Wolves due to a knock, but Curtis Jones returns to the squad after serving his suspension. Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton remain sidelined.
Aston Villa's Champions League push
18:00 , Jamie BraidwoodTonight is not only a huge game for Liverpool but for Aston Villa as well. Unai Emery’s side will discover who they will face in the Champions League last-16 in Friday’s knockout stage draw, but they will want to qualify for next season’s competition as well.
Villa are winless in their last four Premier League games, through, with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Ipswich leaving them 9th in the table and closer to the bottom half than the top-four. Even if they beat Liverpool tonight, they would only go above Fulham into 8th, which shows the scale of their challenge.
At the moment, Manchester City and Bournemouth occupy the final Champions League spots (assuming it goes down to fifth place). Villa are only five points behind the Cherries, but they’ve also got Chelsea - who they host on Saturday - and Newcastle in their way.
The rare Arne Slot trait that could decide Liverpool’s title charge
17:40 , Richard JollyThe business end of a season isn’t always the point to parade your principles. Arne Slot has attacking ideals, but a fondness for winning can override idealism. “Sometimes as a manager you have to be pragmatic as well and understand it is maybe not our game in terms of football, [so] then we as a coaching staff have to be ready to make decisions that help the team in those moments,” he rationalised.
The defining theme of Slot’s management at Anfield has not been a 4-2-3-1 formation or even the similarities and differences with Jurgen Klopp’s tactics. It has been excellent decision-making.
The rare Arne Slot trait that could decide Liverpool’s title charge
Arne Slot leaning on experience of Liverpool's title winners
17:10 , Jamie BraidwoodAs Liverpool enter a crucial stage of the season, Arne Slot says he will lean on the experience of players like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to lead the squad towards a second title in five years.
The last time Liverpool had a 10-point lead in the title race was when they won the Premier League in 2019-20, and while Slot had title winning experience himself with Feyenoord he says he wants his Premier League champions to help the team in tough moments.
"So the ones that won the league here already that was in [Covid] with fans not being in the stadium and at a certain point they were 25 points up so you can hardly talk about pressure then,” Slot said.
"Although I am the type of manager that if there are 10 games to be played and I'm 25 points up I still feel like 'oh, we have to win' but there was hardly any pressure then.
"But we do lean on the players because they have to show up and bring the performances in but not in the manner where today or tomorrow they present a meeting on how to deal with the pressure, that's not how it works."
Why was Aston Villa vs Liverpool rearranged?
16:40 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa were initially scheduled to host Liverpool in the early Saturday kick-off on 15 March, but that was rearranged after the Reds reached the Carabao Cup final (to be played against Newcastle on 16 March).
The rearranged game means Villa play Liverpool tonight, Chelsea on Saturday night, Crystal Palace next Tuesday and Cardiff in the FA Cup on Friday February 28 before heading into the Champions League the following week. That’s five games in 14 days.
Liverpool, meanwhile, play Manchester City on Sunday, Newcastle next Wednesday and then have the weekend off after being knocked out of the FA Cup, but they too will have Champions League football to prepare for the following week.
Unai Emery says visit of Liverpool 'most difficult' game of the season
16:10 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa boss Unai Emery said his side’s rearranged fixture with Premier League leaders Liverpool is their “most difficult match” they have left this season.
Emery’s team have beaten Bayern Munich and Manchester City at home this season, while drawing with Juventus - but leaders Liverpool are unbeaten away from home in the league.
"This is the most difficult match we're going to play in the last weeks or months of the season," Emery said. "We are excited with who we will face tomorrow. Liverpool are the best team in the Premier League and Europe.
"Our challenge is how we face them and respond with our qualities and how we play at this level. We are excited and hopefully we can share our excited moments with our fans at Villa Park."
Arne Slot on Liverpool team news
15:10 , Jamie BraidwoodLiverpool boss Arne Slot on Liverpool team news and updates on Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez:
“Both are unavailable. Cody is the closer to being back but Joe will take quite a long time. He is going to be out for a number of weeks because of a hamstring injury.
“It’s a big blow for Joe and for us. He tries to do everything to be with the team. He works really hard to come back and then the first game when he came back after two or three minutes we saw him making a sprint and now he is out for weeks again.
“So that’s always very hard for a player in every part of the season, let alone a part of the season everyone is looking forward to.”
What is the team news?
15:03 , Jamie BraidwoodVilla boss Unai Emery has one more new injury concern, with Boubacar Kamara forced off just 16 minutes into the draw with Ipswich at the weekend. He will likely face a late fitness test.
Ezri Konsa is unlikely to be back in time to face Liverpool, while Pau Torres and Matty Cash remain sidelined in defence and Amadou Onana is still some time away from a return. Ollie Watkins should be fit to start again, while Leon Bailey could return to the squad.
Cody Gakpo will not feature but is nearing a return after missing the win over Wolves due to a knock, but Curtis Jones returns after serving his suspension. Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton remain sidelined.
When is Aston Villa vs Liverpool?
15:01 , Jamie BraidwoodThe match kicks off at 7.30pm GMT on Wednesday, 19 February at Villa Park.
How can I watch the match?
The match will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 6.30pm. Subscribers can also watch online via discovery+.
Good afternoon
15:00 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s a big evening in the Premier League title race as Aston Villa host Liverpool, with the visitors looking to go 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
With no other sides in action in midweek, the Reds could take a 10-point lead into the weekend with just 12 games left to play, having squeezed past Wolves in their last outing.
And they face a Villa side who have been on a mixed run of form in recent weeks, with the weekend’s draw against 10-man Ipswich meaning that the Villains are back in eighth, six points behind the Champions League places.
Unai Emery on Aston VIlla's team news
15:20 , Jamie Braidwood"Kamara is out and Bailey close to being with us again, I don't know tomorrow, he's a doubt.
"Matty Cash and (Ezri) Konsa are close to being with us. Tomorrow morning I will decide which players are ready for tomorrow."
