Jhon Duran scored twice in the final five minutes to salvage Aston Villa’s 3-3 draw against Liverpool, but the team failed to secure a place in next season’s Champions League on Monday.
Villa looked set to suffer a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions as an own goal from Emiliano Martinez and goals from Cody Gakpo and Jarrell Quansah set the visitors on course for victory in Jurgen Klopp’s final away game of the command.
But replacement Duran moved Unai Emery’s men closer to Europe’s top table for the first time since 1983.
A victory for title-chasing Manchester City over Spurs on Tuesday would secure Villa’s place in the top four.
But they are stumbling towards the finish line as the effort of combining a Champions League challenge with a run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals has taken its toll.
“It was a brilliant effort at the end,” said Villa captain John McGinn.
“It’s been a difficult few weeks. The coach won’t admit it, but the boys are standing up, giving absolutely everything.
“We’ll have our Man City tops tomorrow night.”
Martinez’s return to form after missing last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton should have been a huge boost for the home team.
But the Argentine World Cup winner’s howl gave Liverpool the opening goal after just two minutes when he turned Harvey Elliott’s cross into his own net.
Villa responded positively when Ollie Watkins burned Quansah for speed and turned in a cross for Youri Tielemans to equalise.
However, the momentum swung back in Liverpool’s favor in an end-to-end encounter when Gakpo scored after Martinez had only managed to parry Joe Gomez’s shot.
Villa should have equalized again before half-time when Diego Carlos somehow sent the ball wide with the goal open after pushing Watkins out of the way.
Instead they were 3-1 down just three minutes into the second half when Quansah rose highest to head in Elliott’s free-kick.
– Duran a ‘nightmare’ –
There was still time for Villa to stage a memorable comeback as Liverpool’s own defensive weaknesses were laid bare.
“That got away from us tonight, there’s no doubt about that,” Klopp said.
“We made a mistake at 3-2 and at that moment we opened the door for them, the atmosphere was there and they scored the equalizer.”
Watkins was denied his 20th Premier League goal of the season after Leon Bailey was ruled offside in the build-up after crossing Moussa Diaby’s run.
After an angry exchange of words between Bailey and Watkins, it was the latter who was to blame for getting in the way of Douglas Luiz when the Brazilian had a clear view of the goal.
If it weren’t for the injury to substitute Nicolo Zaniolo, Duran might not have even taken the field.
But the Colombian had an impressive finish when he capitalized on an error from Alexis Mac Allister to score from the edge of the box.
Duran didn’t know much about his second goal as Diaby’s pass ricocheted off his thigh, but Hollywood star and Villa fan Tom Hanks was one of the 40,000 who didn’t care.
“Big Jhon is a little crazy,” McGinn added. “Sometimes it’s a nightmare to have him in the team, but he has moments of quality.”
Only a brilliant save from Alisson Becker denied Diaby the victory in stoppage time.
A point for Liverpool may be meaningless in their title quest as victories for Manchester City and Arsenal at the weekend mathematically ended Klopp’s chance of emerging Premier League winners.
However, it could still be significant in the title race as it keeps Tottenham’s Champions League chances alive ahead of City’s trip to north London on Tuesday.
Even if Spurs pull off a big surprise, Villa will still have a top four place on their hands when they visit in-form Crystal Palace on the final day of the season on Sunday.
Villa’s superior eight-goal goal difference means a draw at Selhurst Park should be enough, even if Tottenham win their last two matches against City and relegated Sheffield United.
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