The Premier League title race actually exists, and we should thank Arne Slot’s Liverpool for that.After drawing against Everton two rounds ago, the Reds have slipped again on Wednesday night, playing just 2-2 at Villa Park.If Arsenal manages to defeat West Ham on Saturday night, Mikel Arteta’s boys will reduce the gap between them and the table-toppers to five points.This is something their former manager, Unai Emery, now in charge of Aston Villa, is also to congratulate on. Despite being winless in the last four Premier League games and conceding the opener tonight, Villans showed serious character. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring around the half-hour mark.Mohamed Salah is the first Liverpool player to score 15 away goals in a Premier League season, breaking Luis Suárez’s record of 14 in 2013/14.Another game, another record. 😀 pic.twitter.com/vhGzMRkcCU— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2025 Jota squared it for Mohamed Salah and he fired it into the roof of the net to put his side in front. However, the hosts bounced back almost instantly through Youri Tielemans, who reacted superbly in the middle of a mayhem in the box.What followed was even more sensational, as Ollie Watkins nailed a jaw-dropping header in the first-half stoppage time for a complete comeback. The ball was played out wide to Lucas Digne, who crossed it for onrushing Watkins for a superb goal. HALFTIME : Watkins with a terrific header to put Villa ahead! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool pic.twitter.com/Y8opjGj1DN— Andrew Yapanis (@Dru4ManUTD) February 19, 2025 The league leaders were eager to restore the stalemate after the break, and did it perfectly after 15 minutes as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot took a deflection off Tyrone Mings before going into the back of the net.Arne Slot then opted for Darwin Nunez, who came on for TAA himself, but the Uruguayan embarrassed himself with an awful miss from a very close range with no keeper in sight.Darwin Nunez with a miss worth 0.89(xG). pic.twitter.com/KQryBhEXre— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) February 19, 2025 Unlike him, Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa netted with ten minutes to go, but it was disallowed due to a narrow offside.Interestingly, the home side kept pushing for the late winner, with Ramsey and Malen being the closest to score, but it stayed 2-2, which is probably the most realistic outcome of this entertaining clash. PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 29Wednesday Aston Villa – Liverpool 2-2 (2-1)/Tielemans 38, Watkins 45+3 – Salah 29, Alexander-Arnold 61/Friday 23.00: (3.40) Leicester (3.50) Brentford (2.10)Saturday 15.30: (2.60) Everton (3.15) Man.Utd. (2.85)18.00: (1.30) Arsenal (5.20) West Ham (11.0)18.00: (1.65) Bournemouth (3.80) Wolverhampton (5.40)18.00: (2.15) Fulham (3.40) Crystal Palace (3.40)18.00: (3.50) Ipswich (3.50) Tottenham (2.05)18.00: (5.50) Southampton (3.90) Brighton (1.63)20.30: (2.75) Aston Villa (3.45) Chelsea (2.50)Sunday 17.00: (1.85) Newcastle (3.60) Nott.Forest (4.30)***odds are subject to change***
