Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa - Roberto Firmino rescues dramatic point for Reds in farewell match at Anfield

Roberto Firmino scored a dramatic equaliser in his final Anfield match to keep Liverpool's slim Champions League hopes alive and salvage a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. With Jurgen Klopp serving a touchline ban, Liverpool looked a far cry from a side who had won seven Premier League matches in a row and should have gone behind when Ibrahima Konate upended Ollie Watkins in the penalty area — but Watkins sent the resulting spot kick wide.

Ad Jacob Ramsey made no such mistake when Trent Alexander-Arnold forgot to mark him in the aftermath of a set piece, however, volleying in at the far post to score in back-to-back games. Premier LeagueLiverpool 'really attractive' to players even without Champions League football — Klopp12/05/2023 AT 10:21 Villa were disciplined but not without a slice of luck and Tyrone Mings could easily have been sent off when his studs went crashing into the stomach of Cody Gakpo — who was otherwise through on goal — but only a yellow card was produced.

Gakpo thought he had levelled for Liverpool in the second half, but a VAR review deemed compatriot Virgil van Dijk was offside in the build-up to the forward converting from close range. Yet Firmino scored a goal which did count two minutes from time, acrobatically diverting Mohamed Salah's cross into the net.

With 10 added minutes a grandstand finish looked to be in store, but Villa regained their composure and held on for a valuable draw. Villa's have 58 points and are up to seventh, which would mean a Europa Confernce League place.

Liverpool, on 66 points, remain fifth and are three points off the top four with just one game left. Premier League table Premier League fixtures / results Premier League top scorers TALKING POINT — Firmino says goodbye