Aston Villa earned a draw at home against Liverpool due to two late goals from Jhon Duran
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Raven Ruma
- . May 14, 2024
- . Update: May 18, 2024 10:27 pm
Substitute Duran’s brace took Unai Emery’s men a step closer to European honours for the first time since 1983. Emiliano Martinez’s own goal and goals from Cody Jackpot and Jarrell Quansah gave the visitors victory in Jurgen Klopp’s final away game.
A Manchester City win over Tottenham on Tuesday would guarantee Villa a place in the top four.
But the club are struggling to get over the finishing line, with the pressure of the Champions League and Europa League semi-final having taken their toll.
Villa captain John McGinn said: ‘We made a great effort at the end of the game: Villa captain John McGinn said: ’We made a great effort at the end of the game.
‘It’s been a tough fortnight. The manager won’t admit it, but the boys are doing their best and doing everything they can.
‘We’ll be wearing Manchester City shirts tomorrow night.
The return to form of Martinez, who missed last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Brighton, should have been a gr Diego Carlos almost scored Villa’s second with a shot that will go down as one of the finest goals of the season. The match was evenly balanced from start to finish and the only surprise was that there were no further goals before half-time.
Liverpool took the lead three minutes into the second half when Jarryl Kwansah headed home his first Premier League goal of the season.
Unai Emery’s side continued to create chances but looked destined for defeat until Doran scored twice in the last five minutes to snatch a share of the spoils.
With this result, fourth-placed Villa are now five points clear of Tottenham with a game in hand. The Lilywhites, in fifth place, have two games in hand but must win at home to reigning champions Manchester City on Tuesday night to stay in the hunt for the last Champions League qualifying place until the final day of the season.
Villa end the season with a tough trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, while Jurgen Klopp’s men, who finish third, end their Liverpool tenure at home to Wolves.eat encouragement to the home team.
