0'
Match officials: Our referee is Simon Hooper. He will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Tim Wood. The fourth official is Tim Robinson and our VAR is Chris Kavanagh.
0'
1 Alisson Becker
4 V. van Dijk
2 J. Gomez
66 T. Alexander-Arnold
78 J. Quansah
3 W. Endo
10 A. Mac Allister
19 H. Elliott
11 Mohamed Salah
18 C. Gakpo
7 L. Díaz. Subs: 8
D. Szoboszlai
38
R. Gravenberch
5
I. Konaté
84
C. Bradley
62
C. Kelleher
9
D. Núñez
43
Stefan Bajčetić
21
K. Tsimikas
17
C. Jones.
0'
Aston Villa : 1 E. Martínez
12 L. Digne
3 Diego Carlos
14 Pau Torres
4 E. Konsa
7 J. McGinn
8 Y. Tielemans
31 L. Bailey
6 Douglas Luiz
11 O. Watkins
19 M. Diaby. Subs: 22
N. Zaniolo
16
C. Chambers
47
T. Iroegbunam
17
C. Lenglet
24
J. Durán
71
O. Kellyman
25
R. Olsen
29
K. Kesler-Hayden
69
F. Munroe.
0'
Chelsea and Newcastle Aston Villa
0'
In their last league game Villa went down 1-0 at Brighton, while Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 at Anfield.
0'
When these teams met during September 2023 Liverpool beat Villa 3-0 at Anfield.
0'
With Liverpool out of the title race this game has more importance for Aston Villa, who need to maintain fourth position on the table to secure a Champions League spot next season.
0'
Good evening and welcome to Villa Park for our coverage of this important Premier League clash betyween Aston Villa and Liverpool.
1'
GOAL, LIVERPOOL, MARTINEZ (OG)! 0-1! Quansah releases Elliott, who runs into space and makes good ground. A quick one-ywo with Salah gets it back to him and he shoots. Martinez takes his eye off the ball and cannot control it and he watches it deflects into the net.
1'
Kick-off! We are underway here in a rocking Villa Park on the West Midlands!
3'
That was not the start Emery and Villa needed.
4'
WIDE from Salah just a minute later after the Egyptian almost walks pass Digne, who has had a slow start.
7'
It has been a fast start by Liverpool. Can they score the goals tonight?
9'
Elliott nicks the ball off Villa but then he is mobbed inside the area. Villa launch a counter and make good ground before Alexander-Arnold shuts out Bailey.
11'
Emery is very vocal on the side. His side have not been able to get much of the ball thus far.
12'
GOAL, ASTON VILLA, TIELEMANS! 1-1: Watson with a good run on the byline. He sends it inside and Tielemans FIRES it past Becker! Brilliant!
14'
Emery much happier now. Villa needed that goal. Their fans have a voice again.
16'
Villa's possession percentages have certainly increased over the last five minutes.
18'
Good work by Bailey and Watkins to secure a Villa corner. Luiz sends it in and it falls for Digne but eventually Liverpool clear.
20'
A lovely through-ball from Bailey finds Watkins, who then gets it wrong before Quansah clears.
22'
Diaby with a run down the right for Villa. He sends in the cross and Bailey returns it to him. Alas he has drifted OFFSIDE and we start again.
23'
GOAL, LIVERPOOL, GAKPO! 1-2: Diaz collects the ball and offloads to Gomez, who shoots but it's across the face of goal for Gakpo to tap in.
26'
After a lenghty VAR offside check it's a GOAL! That will be added time at the end of the half.
28'
Quansah guilty of a foul on Bailey for a Villa free-kick near halfway.
30'
Shouts from Villa for a Van Dijk handball in the Liverpool box but it's mainly from the supporters and not the players...
32'
Endo finds Gomez with a good through-ball but this time the Gomez cross hits a Villa player.
34'
An Alisson clearance finds a Villa player and they almost make Liverpool pay but well done Quansah again! McGinn did well for Villa!
35'
Bailey takes a knock after it appears as if Mac Allister stands on his foot. He needs attention and secures a free-kick.
37'
HOW DID VILLA MISS THAT! A brilliant run from Bailey and sends it across the face of goal and Diego Carlos just cannot sort his feet out to tap it in. The miss of the season??
39'
YELLOW CARD, LIVERPOOL! 1-2: Elliott in the book after kicking the ball away out of frustration.. SILLY!
41'
Digne in the left corner tries to get past Alexander-Armold and secures the corner. It is taken short and Quansah clears with Mac Allister's help.
43'
Alexander-Arnold tries his luck from range and even though it dips in it was always going OVER! Villa counter and Diaby is in a perfect position before skying it! He needed composure there..
45'
+6: HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 1-2 Liverpool. The Reds lead at the break but it has been an entertaining half from both teams and despite Liverpool dominating possession, Villa have looked dangerous whenever they attacked. This game is still open and let's not forget that Villa have wasted two huge opportunities and should really have been in front. If they want to play Champions League football next season they need to take those chances in the second half. Spurs will be watching closely..Please join us after the break.
45'
+2: McGinn is down in stoppage time and he indicates a rib or shoulder injury. He will keep going.
45'
We will have five minutes of time added on for stoppages.
46'
Kick-off! The second half is underway with Villa trailing by a goal in a match they really don't want to lose!
47'
Villa drive up the left, the cross comes in but it's straight at Becker, who gathers it with ease.
48'
GOAL, LIVERPOOL, QUANSAH! 3-1; Liverpool win a free-kick from 10 metres in from the left wing… it's curled in and Quansah rises high, gets a good head on it, and it curls into the top corner, with Martínez only able to watch in horror as their place in Europe comes increasingly under pressure. STUNNING HEADER!
49'
Villa press up again, Liverpool push them back… but they work their way back up again… they drive up into the box from the right, up to near the six-yard box, it's passed across to Watkins who taps it into the back of the goal and Villa Park erupts… but VAR is going to ruin the Villa party by the looks of it…
52'
Yes, VAR is the enemy at Villa Park, but it was offside.
54'
NIGHTMARE in the Liverpool box! Becker and his backs get in a mess, Villa capitalise and pounce on the ball, it's passed to Watkins who try a back flick but it's JUST wide of the post. What is happening to Liverpool? I'll tell you what… it's the end of season MADNESS that makes the Premier League so unpredictable and compelling!
57'
Villa too cute trying to work the ball upfield from their box and lose possession near the halfway line Liverpool pounce and drive forward, pressing up to the Villa box, but the home side manage to clean things up.
58'
Liverpool press up and Diaz is sent through, behind the Villa defence… he pushes to the Villa box then passes wide to Salah and Elliott, who between them stab it into the back of the goal… but the flag is up for offside, and VAR confirms it after a good deal of squinting.
60'
Villa press up, a cross from the left deep into the box is controlled, the Villa man looks to shoot but is blocked and it's a corner… Liverpool clear it and drive upfield, putting a bit of pressure on Villa. Don't forget, mathematically Liverpool can still win the League at this point… although splitting the atom with a breadknife might be a tad easier.
63'
Villa press up, looking for angles and gaps, but Liverpool close them down.
64'
SUBSTITUTION, ASTON VILLA. Tielemans makes way for Zaniolo.
66'
Villa press up and win a free-kick inside the Liverpool half.
67'
SIDE-NETTING! Diaby with a storming run down the right, he's past a foot ahead of his man but the cross is blocked so he SHOOTS but it slams into the side-netting.
68'
Great run from Bailey into the box but he gives away a free-kick in frustration just inside the Liverpool box.
69'
IT'S THE KEYSTONE KOP! Well, from Villa's perspective… Villa with another storming run in from the right, it's played across to Zaniolo in a great position inside the box, but he side-foots it without enough pace and too close to Becker, who dives down and pushes it wide… then there are a few fluffed shots, one of which flies diagonally towards the far touchline. Such a good position, Villa should have done more then.
mcginn takes n for the
70'
YELLOW CARD, ASTON VILLA, MCGINN. He takes one for the team after pulling a Liverpool midfielder back trying to make a break upfield.
71'
Liverpool drive forward, with a throw and there's a snapshot on goal but it's too high to bother 22 Martinez.
73'
Villa playing it up from the back now… Zaniolo crosses from the left but it's played out for a corner.
75'
SUBSTITUTIONS, LIVERPOOL. Take a deep breath… Endo, Gakpo, Elliott and Díaz make way foooor…
Jones, Szoboszlai, Núñez and Gravenberch!
77'
SAVED! Great work from Martinez to slide forward and block Salah's attempt from the near post. Great keeping.
79'
SUBSTITUTIONS, ASTON VILLA. Zaniolo limps off injured and it replaced by fellow-sub Durán… and Douglas Luiz is hooked, with Chambers filling his boots.
81'
SAVED! Liverpool press forward into the Villa box, the ball bounces to the edge of the box where Alexander-Arnold thrashes it hip high with his weaker left foot… but it's on target and Martinez jumps up and beats it away with his left hand. Odd that… he could possibly have stood still and just caught.
83'
CLOSE! Villa press into the Liverpool box and Durán comes so close to being able to get a shot in, at pace the ball running under his feet. Good run.
84'
GOAL, ASTON VILLA, DURAN! 2-3; Durán gets the ball on the edge of the box, presses to the left and slams a low hard shot into the bottom right-hand corner. Fantastic goal… GAME ON!
85'
Liverpool press forward, there's a shot on goal but Martinez saves easily with a dive.
86'
LIVERPOOL THROUGH… DIAZ HAS THIS UNCHALLENGED… YES HE'S BEATEN DIAZ… but the flag is up and yes clearly off-side!
88'
GOAL, ASTON VILLA, DURAN! 3-3; Quite unbelievable scenes as it's Duran-Duran with two goals in two minutes. Villa press forward, Duran drives to the edge of the box and simply chips Becker… and the teams are level!!!!! What a night, oh what a night! VAR checked for offside and handball and either decided neither were valid or else thought, what the hell, let's have some drama. No … actually it was simply not offside and no handball.
90'
Nine minutes of added time to come! Tom Hanks in a corporate box celebrated that goal with greater gusto than Saving Private Ryan.
91'
WHAT A SHOT… AND WHAT A SAAAAAAVE!!!!!! Diaby is through into the box, a Liverpool defender on his waistband… he strikes a powerful shot on goal, and Becker, who came out to meet him, deflects it with part of his bicep and it's out for a corner. Great shot but WHAT A SAVE!
94'
Liverpool press forward, there's a shot on goal from distance low and skidding on the turf… Martinez down to save comfortably.
96'
Liverpool press forward and win a corner… but Villa header and then kick it clear to touch.
97'
Liverpool with a free-kick on the halfway line, they're passing it wide, there's a throw-in near the corner, with Diaby sliding off the field and now stretching his hamstring in pain… there was a momentary chance for Liverpool to benefit from one man up but that was snuffed out. Time almost up… Villa press forward winning a throw…
98'
Liverpool win the ball back and boot it upfield… and that's the end of a QUITE INCREDIBLE night of football from both sides. I tell you, when you're tired of the Premier League you're tired of life!
99'
FULL-TIME, ASTON VILLA 3-3 LIVERPOOL. Magnificent football from both sides, and WHAT A FINISH from Aston Villa! Duran-Duran! What a double strike from the kid! So as it stands, Liverpool WILL end the season in third place. No-one can catch them and they can catch no-one! Villa… they will secure the fourth point and Champions League football if Spurs do NOT beat Man City tomorrow. If Spurs win then it's down to the final day to decide the title and fourth place! Oh my… so tomorrow is an even bigger day than today… will we see as much heart-stopping action? We'll keep you in tune with the moment-to-moment action tomorrow night - see you then!
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