Liverpool missed the opportunity of going 10 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League after playing out a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday night.
Marcus Rashford made his first start for Villa since his loan switch from Manchester United and showed his quality from early on when his cross was turned his goal by Reds defender Virgil van Dijk after just 17 minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out due to offside in the build-up.
Liverpool forward Mo Salah had his side’s first real chance when he miscued his header, though he was on hand to open the scoring soon after, getting teed up by Diogo Jota who had benefitted from an awful pass by Andres Garcia.
That lead lead lasted only for nine minutes as Youri Tielemans levelled for the hosts, after the Reds failed to clear Rashford’s free-kick, with the home side making it two in first-half injury time after Ollie Watkins headed home following a fine cross from Lucas Digne.
The visitors got back on level terms early in the second half. Diogo Jota had struck the bar before Mo Salah cut back for Trent Alexander-Arnold whose deflected low effort beat Emi Martinez in goal for the Villans.
Liverpool then had a great chance to go ahead for the second time in the match, but substitute Darwin Nunez blazed his effort over from just five yards with 21 minutes left, while Villa’s Jacob Ramsey had a goal disallowed for offside.
Substitute, Donyell Malen, had a goal-bound effort blocked before seeing a shot beat Alisson but come off the foot of Liverpool’s goal deep in stoppage time as Villa searched in vain for the winning goal.
The game ended with both sides sharing the spoils, though Liverpool will rue the missed opportunity of putting further daylight between themselves and closest challengers, Arsenal, in the Premier League title race.
Liverpool still hold top spot with 61 points, eight points clear of the Gunners who have a game in hand, while Aston Villa remain in ninth place with 39 points, five points adrift of the top four.