Emi Martinez nightmare as John McGinn excellent – Aston Villa player ratings vs Liverpool
Aston Villa fought back from terrible first half to secure a drama-filled 3-3 draw with Liverpool thanks to a late Jhon Duran double.
The hosts made a horrendous start when Emi Martinez fumbled a deflected cross and knocked it into his own net in the second minute, and a shocked Villa side could have gone further behind before excellent work by Ollie Watkins down the left saw him round Jarell Quansah and set up Youri Tielemans to smash in a 12th-minute equaliser.
Cody Gakpo tapped in after 23 minutes when Martinez couldn’t divert a Joe Gomez cross away, with a long VAR review ruling it onside, before Diego Carlos wasted a glorious opportunity from close range, before Quansah ran in behind Lucas Digne to head in a third straight after the restart.
A quick-fire Watkins response was ruled out by VAR for offside before a combination of Harvey Elliott and Mohamed Salah had the ball in the net to the same result, but Duran’s late introduction turned the game back as he scored in the 85th and 88th minutes, the first smashed in low from distance after good work from Calum Chambers and the second luckily looping in off his knee from Moussa Diaby’s pass.
Here, Villa News rates the Villans players out of 10 for their performances against Jurgen Klopp’s side, with stats from SofaScore.
Emi Martinez – 2
Anything but the best in the world in arguably his worst game for Aston Villa. Couldn’t have started in worse fashion as he made possibly the worst error of his career in dropping a cross after a slight deflection of Pau Torres, only succeeding in bundling it in as he then failed to reclaim it to leave Gabby Agbonlahor feeling “sick” on Twitter. Got a fingertip to Gomez’s ball but failed to keep it out of Gakpo’s path for the second and was in no man’s land for the third. Made a couple of late saves but a lot of damage was already done. Only made one save after three quarters of the game but finished with five, and his -0.36 goals prevented was only boosted late on and just two of nine long balls completed (22.22%).
Ezri Konsa – 6
Up and down evening on the right, with one crunching challenge early giving way to the natural centre-back affording Liverpool too much space down his flank on multiple occasions as the entire defence put in a chaotic showing. Did win nine of his 11 total duels as his performance improved after the break.
Diego Carlos – 4
A night to forget for the Brazilian. A fairly slack defensive performance was compounded in attack when he somehow managed to divert Leon Bailey’s ball wide in front of an open goal, taking the ball off Watkins’ toe in the process, as his 1.00 xG rating for the game showed.
Pau Torres – 6
Not a great defensive performance by any means until late on as he gave Liverpool attackers too much space a few times in a poor start, but considering the level of defending around him was possibly the pick of the back line. Decent work to preserve the point at the end. Only entered into three total duels, winning two (66%).
Diego Carlos somehow misses Aston Villa sitter
Lucas Digne – 3
Largely dismal outing. Terrible start down the left as he looked unable to keep anyone from going past him, with Mohamed Salah nearly doubling the lead in the opening minutes. Allowed Quansah to run in behind him to score the third from a free kick. Lost possession a massive 23 times and only completed 71% of his passes.
Douglas Luiz (off for Chambers ’79) – 5
Poor defensively early on and largely ineffective thereafter. Left trailing in Harvey Elliott’s wake as the Englishman ran the length of the Villa half before his cross led to the opener and struggled to have his usual impact in possession, completing 37 of 43 passes (86%) but just one was key, while he lost possession 10 times.
Youri Tielemans (off for Zaniolo ’65) – 6
Quiet. Smashed the perfect finish low into the corner from Watkins’ cut back to draw Aston Villa level and spark wild celebrations from Unai Emery on the bench but offered very little else. Only attempted 28 passes, completing 24 (86%), and won only 50% of his six ground duels.
John McGinn – 8 (Man of the Match)
Important captain’s display in midfield, in stark contrast to a previous clash with an immediate rival, as he brought much-needed control to a chaotic game while absorbing numerous strong challenges, as the Villans looked in danger of being overrun at times. Hurried under pressure as he gave up possession for Liverpool to break and score the freak opener but soon settled and should have had an excellent assist if Diaby hadn’t wasted a great chance. Won eight of 13 ground duels (61.5%), completed 28 of 31 passes (91%) and four of six dribble attempts (66%). Although he faded later on his level wasn’t matched by enough of his colleagues, at least until Duran arrived late on.
Lucas Digne puts in awful showing for Unai Emery’s side
Leon Bailey – 7
Grew into the game after a quiet start and looked to have laid a second equaliser on a plate after 35 minutes only for Carlos to squander the chance. Visibly frustrated as he raged at Watkins after the striker’s disallowed goal but probably the most threatening attacking outlet overall as he made three key passes and laid on that one big chance.
Moussa Diaby – 7
Started and ended strongly but wasteful in between. Looked threatening in his first attack to immediately put Joe Gomez on the back foot, then vanished for the next 40 minutes before blazing an excellent chance over when played through by McGinn. Laid on one good chance which Zaniolo shot straight at Alisson. Got a key assist, although somewhat luckily, as he overhit a pass that looped off Duran and in and nearly smashed in a winner but for a good Alisson save, to finish with five key passes and two big chances created.
Ollie Watkins – 6
Frustrating night over all. Fantastic work to drag his side back after a shock start and create the equaliser for Tielemans but couldn’t replicate that quality for some time after and was hugely frustrated to have a tap-in from Bailey’s cross wasted by Carlos in front of him. Made two key passes but only had two shots.
Substitutions
Nicolo Zaniolo (on for Tielemans ’65 – off for Duran ’79) – 5
Failed to emulate the man he replaced as his tame effort in a similar position to where Tielemans scored from was kept out after a set up from Diaby in his only real contribution, managing just six total touches before going off injured.
Calum Chambers (on for Luiz ’79) – 7
Pounced on Alexis Mac Allister to regain possession in his one duel for Duran’s late goal after a strong introduction.
Jhon Duran (on for Zaniolo’ 79) – 8
Produced the desired impact as he arrowed a low shot into the corner from outside the box and almost immediately equalised with a second, albeit fortuitously as Diaby’s overhit pass looped off his knee and in as he secured a point from just seven touches.
In other Aston Villa news, a done deal has been announced as contract news emerges from the Villans.
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