Liverpool manager Arne Slot could not hide his frustration as his side failed to secure maximum points after their 2-2 draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday, Afrosport reports.
The Reds, who were seven points clear atop the league standings, headed to Villa Park with the hopes of increasing their lead over Arsenal to 10 points but were unable to do so as the hosts put up a great fight.
Liverpool come from behind to take a point at Villa Park 🔴 pic.twitter.com/CsA4W5Pnqu
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 19, 2025
Liverpool jumped in front through Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, who scored his league-leading 24th goal of the season, but Villa responded with two goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins as Unai Emery’s side went into the halftime break ahead.
The Premier League leaders, however, drew level in the 61st minute through Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose deflected effort left Emiliano Martinez helpless in the Villa goal.
Liverpool should have retaken the lead eight minutes later, but Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez missed a sitter from just in front of goal. The Reds were also lucky not to have gone down at the other end as Donyell Malen failed to take his chance in the final seconds to win the game for Villa.
“The only reason why we could be happy with the 2-2 was that they got the last chance of the game, and maybe their third chance after scoring two,” said Slot. “That could be the only reason that we would say, okay, a point is good to take.
“For everything else, I’m not happy with 2-2. I wasn’t happy at all being 2-1 down at half time. That didn’t reflect, in my opinion, the first half at all, but yeah, that’s the thing of football, if you can see the set piece, things can change quite quickly.”
An opportunity missed to go 10 points clear, but still a healthy lead at the top for Liverpool 🔝#AVLLIV pic.twitter.com/Lr8miAkVm5
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 19, 2025
The result meant Liverpool are now eight points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, having played one game more, but Slot was left unsatisfied as the Dutchman thought they deserved more.
“Too often now that we don’t get what we deserve,” he added. “And if you look at all the chances from us and from them, I think it’s clear which team should have won this game.
“We must not make a habit out of that because it happened a bit too much now and still we are eight points clear with Arsenal a game in hand.”
Liverpool, with 61 points, have 12 more games in the league, while Arsenal, with 53 points, have played a game less. The Gunners, however, have the opportunity to reduce the gap at the top to five points when they host West Ham United on Saturday.
Slot’s men, meanwhile, face tough tasks in their next two league games: first, a trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City on Sunday, before welcoming Newcastle United to Anfield next Wednesday.
