At Villa Park, substitute Jhon Duran emerged as the hero for Aston Villa, netting two goals to secure a 3-3 draw against Liverpool. The result puts Villa on the brink of confirming their spot in next season’s Champions League.
The match began disastrously for Villa when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez inadvertently scored an own goal, giving Liverpool an early lead. However, Villa bounced back with Youri Tielemans leveling the score, only for Liverpool to regain the lead through Cody Gakpo and extend it with Jarell Quansah’s header.
Villa’s resilience was tested further when Diego Carlos missed a golden opportunity and Ollie Watkins had a goal disallowed. But Duran’s late-game heroics, scoring twice in quick succession, turned the game on its head and snatched a vital point for Unai Emery’s team.
The draw means that Villa’s Champions League qualification is nearly assured, pending Tottenham’s result against Manchester City. For Liverpool, it was a bittersweet send-off for manager Jurgen Klopp in his last away game, as his team relinquished a two-goal lead in a dramatic finish to the match. Aston Villa’s season has been one of defying expectations, and with the Champions League within reach, their remarkable journey continues.
