Premier League leaders Liverpool needed Trent Alexander-Arnold's second-half equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday that lifted them eight points clear at the top.
Liverpool began strongly and led through Mohamed Salah's 28th-minute opener, but Villa turned the game on its head before halftime with goals by Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.
Diogo Jota struck the crossbar for Liverpool after the break before Alexander-Arnold's deflected shot levelled it up. Substitute Darwin Nunez missed a glorious chance to restore Liverpool's lead and Villa almost nicked it in stoppage time with Donyell Malen's shot shaving the post.
While it was hardly a damaging result for Arne Slot's side, who remain in control of the title race, it will give chasing Arsenal some heart as they now have a game in hand.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool latest news
- GOAL! Alexander-Arnold levels it up
- GOAL! Watkins heads home just before the break
- GOAL! Tielemans fires home the equaliser
- GOAL! Salah gifted opening goal
- NO GOAL! Watkins opener ruled out
Full-time!
21:25 , Alex Young96min: That’s it! Liverpool move eight points clear of Arsenal, but have now played one game more.
How vital will those two points be come May?
CHANCE!
21:24 , Alex Young93min: That was the chance for Villa!
Rogers ducks into the area and just gets under the ball as he shoots over from close range.
Emery is fuming.
91min: FIVE minutes added on as Salah sends a cross long and out of play.
89min: No, it’s more serious. Quansah replaces Bradley.
88min: Bradley hits the deck. It can’t be cramp, he’s only just come on.
86min: Liverpool racking up the corners as Bradley wins one off Maatsen... but the delivery is straight into Martinez’s arms.
85min: Villa have a habit of conceding late in games this season.
83min: The first Liverpool corner in a while, taken by Robertson... and easily headed away by Disasi.
NO GOAL!
21:11 , Alex Young82min: Oh wow, Ramsey thinks he’s won it for Villa but he’s offside.
81min: Diaz is on for Mac Allister.
80min: Corner is cleared at the second attempt.
Villa look the more likely as we enter the final 10.
79min: Rogers still full of running and Malen wins another corner.
This could go either way.
78min: Maatsen is on for Digne.
75min: Nunez races through and has Martinez to beat again, but this time the keeper is off his line quick enough to clear.
74min: Great for Villa as Ramsey, who has been very lively since coming on, sends Bradley and drills a cross into the area which Konate juuuust about clears.
SAVE!
21:01 , Alex Young71min: Allison with a great stop to deny Malen on the angle... and the offside flag is up.
The keeper didn’t know that.
SITTER!
21:00 , Alex Young70min: OH MY WORD, how was Nunez missed?!
An open goal, seven yards out and Nunez blazes over. Slot has his head in his hands.
69min: Cash straight through Mac Allister for his first involvement.
68min: Cash, Malen and Ramsey are on for Asensio, Garcia and Rashford.
A fairly lively showing from Rashford. Asensio less so.
66min: Jota and Alexander-Arnold make way for Nunez and Bradley.
63min: Nunez and Bradley look set to come on.
GOAL!
20:52 , Alex Young61min: There it is!
Alexander-Arnold fires home from the edge of the area and beats Martinez via a big deflection!
Game. On.
CROSSBAR!
20:50 , Alex Young60min: They’re getting closer!
Jota rattles the woodwork from the edge of the area. Martinez beaten.
57min: Szoboszlai with a tame strike at goal after getting a yard on Disasi.
56min: Two quick corners for Liverpool.
Mings heads the first away at the front post, and Robertson heads the second wide.
54min: It’s all Liverpool at the moment but Villa are not giving them an inch.
52min: Diaz has just started warming up.
CHANCE!
20:41 , Alex Young50min: Allison rushes from goal to tackle Rashford, fails and then the forward tries to lob Konate in goal but the defender heads away.
Liverpool don’t need that from their keeper.
49min: First half-chance for Liverpool as Mac Allister floats a free kick to the back post... but it evades everyone.
47min: Liverpool start the second half on top.
Second half!
20:35 , Alex Young46min: Back underway.
Aston Villa look bang up for this, have done since the first whistle. Second half coming up.
My word, Liverpool have not been at it at all really.
It will take some doing to come back from this.
Half-time!
20:20 , Alex Young49min: There’s the whistle.
A huge, huge 45 minutes ahead in the title race!
GOAL!
20:20 , Alex Young47min: Watkins fires Villa level just before the break!
Digne with a cracker of a cross to pick out Watkins in a busy penalty area.
Liverpool want a foul on Jota in the build-up, but plenty of time had passed before the goal was scored.
46min: Three minutes added on.
44min: The referee, Craig Pawson, is letting plenty go tonight. It’s quite a feisty one.
43min: Disasi is on the deck after a tangle with Jota, but it looks fairly innocuous, and the Liverpool man is telling him as much.
40min: Now Jones drives into the area, holds off two and fires towards the far post, but his shot fizzes wide.
CHANCE!
20:11 , Alex Young39min: Oh my word, Jota almost puts Liverpool back in front straight from the restart but he cannot bend his shot inside the near post after a smart dart into the area.
GOAL!
20:09 , Alex Young38min: I said they had reacted well!
Villa level through Tielemans after Liverpool fail to properly clear their lines from the free kick.
33min: Villa have reacted well to going behind, straight back on the front foot.
There is quite the battle bubbling in the middle between Mac Allister and Tielemans.
30min: Only Southampton have made more mistakes leading to goals than Aston Villa this season.
GOAL!
20:01 , Alex Young29min: He’s barely had a sniff, but Salah is gifted the opener!
A disaster at the back for Villa as Garcia gives the ball straight to Jota on the edge of the area and he duly sets up Salah to slot home unmarked.
27min: Robertson gets to the byline and cuts the ball back for Mac Allister to have a pop at goal, but his effort is blocked.
26min: Villa have lost a bit of their momentum with all of that.
Alexander-Arnold hooks a ball into the area, Jota can’t control it so Liverpool recycle and this time Salah gets away a header at the back post but he cannot loop the ball over Martinez.
25min: Mac Allister is making quite the meal of it, but he’s finally up and play can continue.
23min: Disasi is booked for a bit of rough and tumble with Mac Allister. Seems a bit of half-of-one etc, but he’s the first to be shown a yellow card.
21min: We haven’t seen too much of Salah so far tonight, and Digne nicks the ball off his toe as the Egyptian tries to make progress down the right wing.
19min: Much better from Liverpool as Szoboszlai and Jones link up to send the latter into the area, but Martinez is quick off his line to clear.
NO GOAL!
19:48 , Alex Young17min: Watkins thinks he has put Villa ahead, ahead Rashford gets to the byline and flicks a ball in, but the loanee is offside.
15min: Corner sent in, but comes to nothing.
Liverpool can’t get out at the moment.
14min: Great work by Disasi to win another Villa corner, getting to the byline and drilling a cross in which is sent behind.
13min: Free kick floated in for 35 yards, but it’s straight on Konate’s head.
12min: Szoboszlai given a talking to after fouling Tielemans. Free kick chance for Villa here.
9min: Villa certainly not overawed by the challenge tonight, and why should they be, but their final ball is letting them down at the moment.
7min: Watkins sells Rashford short with a back heel on the edge of the Liverpool area.
A great start to the game, this.
5min: VIlla holding on a tad. Wave after wave from Liverpool as Mings is twice called into action with blocks.
4min: First corner of the games is Liverpool’s, who play is short before Van Dijk is spotted at the back post to fire at goal from a tight angle... and it’s well wide.
3min: Liverpool now on the ball as everyone looks to get a touch.
2min: Villa with that press of theirs straight away as Asensio gives away a free kick in the Liverpool final third.
Kick-off!
19:30 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Here come the teams.
The last time Aston Villa beat Liverpool it was that wild 7-2 win during the Covid era.
The was eight meetings ago.
Not long to go now. Both teams are back in their dressing rooms.
How much this guy would like to dent Liverpool’s title charge.
According to TNT Sports, there have been 33 goals scored in the last seven meetings between these two teams.
That’s around five per game. We’ll take that tonight.
Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports
18:52 , Alex Young"We have players injured and today we have those centre-backs 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."
Marcus Rashford is handed his first start for Aston Villa since joining on loan, replacing Jacob Ramsey. Fellow loanee arrival Marco Asensio also gets the nod, coming in for Donyell Malen.
Tyrone Mings is passed fit to start in defence, but Konsa and Bailey are absent.
For Liverpool, Curtis Jones starts after serving a one-match ban, which sees Luis Diaz drop to the bench.
Confirmed team news
18:20 , Alex YoungAston Villa XI: Martinez; Andres Garcia, Mings, Disasi, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Asensio, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Bodgarde, Maatsen, Malen, Ramsey, Jimoh-Aloba
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Jota, Szoboszlai
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Diaz, Nunez, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley
Aston Villa XI
18:16 , Alex Young...and the hosts!
How we start to face Liverpool this evening 👊 #AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/gBUnpF6fZc
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 19, 2025
Liverpool XI
18:15 , Alex YoungHere’s how the Reds look.
Our side to take on Aston Villa 👊 #AVLLIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 19, 2025
How to watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool
18:10 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 6.30pm GMT ahead of a 7.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch via the Discovery+ app.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us!
Latest team news
17:44 , Alex YoungLiverpool will be without both Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez tonight, but Curtis Jones is back from suspension and could get the nod should the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai need a rest.
Darwin Nunez is pushing for a start, with Diogo Jota struggling to deputise for Gakpo.
For Aston Villa, Tyrone Mings is back from a knee injury and should replace the injured Boubacar Kamara. Enzi Konsa is unlikely to be risked but Leon Bailey will undergo a late fitness test.
Confirmed teams in half an hour.
Latest match odds
17:25 , Alex YoungThe bookies are backing a Liverpool win tonight.
- Aston Villa: 13/5
- Draw: 14/5
- Liverpool: 10/11
(Odds via Betway.)
It’s a biggie tonight.
Time to make a title statement
16:58 , Alex YoungLiverpool can move TEN points clear of Arsenal with victory tonight. From holding a game in hand for weeks to playing a game more than their main title rival.
How will this affect the title race? Well, they need to get the job done first.
Arne Slot not concerned by title race nerves
16:30 , Alex YoungLiverpool head coach Arne Slot dismissed suggestions nerves are starting to affect his side and believes his players have the experience to cope with the pressure of a title run-in.
"I think it always helps if you have experienced it already, that's not only me but also for the players," he said.
"We lean a lot on the players because we train with them, I give them a pre-match meeting to try to prepare them in the best possible way but from that moment onwards you lean on the players - how much work rate do they want to put in, how well do they execute the gameplan, do they adapt to what the other team does?
"It helps not in the sense they have won the league here maybe but they are used to playing big games in their career with a lot of pressure: Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) has won a World Cup.
"I think it helps you if a team or a player already won something but don't make that too big because you still have to play for it and you can't compare the circumstances.”
Liverpool's away record
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool have lost a total of four times across all competitions so far this season.
However, they are unbeaten away from home in the Premier League - the only side in the division with this particular record.
This puts Arne Slot’s side in a good place ahead of two tough fixtures on the road this week. Should their away defeats column have a zero under it come Sunday evening, then the Reds will be one step closer to being crowned champions of England once again.
Last time at Villa Park
14:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneClashes between these two sides usually serve up goals at Villa Park.
Who can forget the 7-2 win for the hosts at the start of the 2020/21 season?
In the corresponding meeting last season the teams shared six goals as Villa fought back from 3-1 down to earn a crucial point towards their Champions League qualification campaign.
Marcus Rashford stat
12:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMarcus Rashford could make his full debut for Aston Villa tonight following two substitute appearances against Tottenham and Ipswich.
Villa Park is Rashford’s new home, well at least until the end of the season, and this could be bad news for Liverpool.
Rashford scored five goals in eight home Premier League appearances against Liverpool for Manchester United – his most home goals against any side in the competition.
Will he improve on this record later today?
Andy Robertson issues title run-in warning
10:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAndy Robertson has experienced several Premier League title challenges across his Anfield career and he’s warned Liverpool supporters that things will not be straightforward in the run-in.
“It’s never straightforward. I think we’ve learned that over the years and there’s always bumps and there’s always twists and turns, and I think that’s always how it is when you get to the end of the season no matter where you’ve finished,” he said.
“There’s always been a kind of rollercoaster element to it and I think it’s part and parcel of it, it’s what the fans enjoy, they enjoy the rollercoaster [because] it makes the highs a lot more special and obviously the fans’ support has been unbelievable for us up to now.
“Like I’ve said, we never take it for granted: every away end being sold out, how many games we’ve got, and every time we come home the stadium is full and they really get behind us.
“OK, there might be nervy moments and there might be bad moments but hopefully we can all be happy at the end of the season.
“But it’s up to us to try to achieve that and we can achieve it all together by pushing in the same direction, by supporting each other, and I believe we have done that really well up to now and we’re going to do that up to the end of the season.”
Standard Sport prediction
07:56 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool have the opportunity to send out a statement to Arsenal in this season’s Premier League title race.
Victory over Aston Villa will open up a 10-point lead at the top of the table and really pile the pressure on the Gunners. Though, Liverpool’s second half showing against Wolves does raise a few questions.
With another huge game on the horizon away at Manchester City, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Reds drop points tonight especially as Villa are very strong at home.
2-2 draw
Unai Emery welcomes positives of busy schedule
Tuesday 18 February 2025 23:00 , Alex YoungAston Villa boss Unai Emery says his side's congested fixture list shows they are making progress.
Villa are in the midst of five games in 14 days as Liverpool visit Villa Park in a rearranged Premier League match which left Emery incensed.
The game was originally set to be played in March but was brought forward because Liverpool are through to the Carabao Cup final.
Villa then play Chelsea on Saturday night, Crystal Palace next Tuesday and Cardiff in the FA Cup on February 28 before heading into the Champions League the following week.
Emery has a host of injury problems to contend with, but he says it is par for the course when a team is competing on three fronts.
"We are going to prepare each match with good food, good rest, sleep well and play each match with the players who feel as little as possible in everything," the Spaniard said.
"I have to be demanding in myself to use and choose the players for each match to get our structure strong and try to protect some players in case they have a small pain or are getting tired.
"We will play tomorrow and focus on that, hopefully we can play with full energy and 100 per cent.
"Liverpool played on Sunday and have been playing lots of matches for a long time.
"We have to understand our next step playing a lot of matches in a row, we have to be intelligent, choosing the best moment for the players and get important players off the bench because we will need players trying to help us and tomorrow is the same.
"Tomorrow match, tomorrow three points and then we will see."
Early Aston Villa team news
Tuesday 18 February 2025 19:00 , Alex YoungLeon Bailey, Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa are all in contention to face Liverpool, but Boubacar Kamara has been ruled out.
Unai Emery addressed the media earlier today ahead of tomorrow’s night game, and revealed the trio will all face late fitness tests.
Kamara, who was withdrawn after just 16 minutes of the draw with Ipswich, joins Pau Torres, Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana on the sidelines.
Emery said: “Kamara is out, Bailey is close to being with us again. I don’t know [about] tomorrow, he’s a doubt.
“Cash as well is close to being with us, Konsa as well is close to being with us.
“We trained this morning but, until tomorrow morning, I’m not going to decide exactly how much they are ready to play or not or to be with us.”
Liverpool predicted XI
Tuesday 18 February 2025 16:30 , Alex YoungTyler Morton is the only other injury concern for Liverpool at this stage, with Curtis Jones available again after serving a one-match suspension following his red card in the Merseyside derby.
Cody Gakpo’s absence means Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez will compete to lead the line.
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Jota
Gakpo and Gomez ruled out
Tuesday 18 February 2025 10:59 , Alex YoungArne Slot has confirmed Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez will both miss the game.
Gomez was forced off early in Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Plymouth earlier this month and is now facing another spell on the sidelines with a hamstring issue, having only just returned from injury.
Gakpo is not far off from being available, having been ruled out of Sunday’s win over Wolves with a knock, but the midweek clash with Villa will come too soon.
Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday: “Both are unavailable for tomorrow. Cody is the closest to coming back but Joe will take quite some time. He is going to be out for a number of weeks because of a hamstring injury.”
How to watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Tuesday 18 February 2025 10:26 , Matt VerriTV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 6.30pm GMT ahead of a 7.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch via the Discovery+ app.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us!
Good morning!
Tuesday 18 February 2025 08:30 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Aston Villa vs Liverpool!
It’s a massive game in the Premier League title race, with Arne Slot’s side having the chance to move ten points clear of Arsenal.
That won’t be easy though, against a Villa side who have lost only twice on home soil this season in all competitions.
Stick with us for all the latest build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7:30pm GMT from Villa Park tomorrow night!
