Premier League – Aston Villa-Liverpool 3-3: Champions League celebration postponed for Emery. Zaniolo knocked out again

Fireworks match at Villa Park on Monday Night of the 37th round of the Premier League. In front of the super fan Tom Hanks, Aston Villa wasted the match point for arithmetic qualification for the next Champions League, which has been missing in these parts for 41 years (since the edition in which Hamburg beat Juventus 1-0 in the final with goals from Felix Magath). Match opened by a duck from Emiliano Martinez, with the Reds taking a 1-3 lead at the start of the second half after Quansah’s first Premier League goal. At that point, Zaniolo comes on in the 64th minute in place of Tielemans (author of the momentary 1-1) and recovers badly after the flexor injury: Duran comes on in his place, who scores a brace between the 85th and the 88′ for the final 3-3. Aston Villa on 68 points. Tottenham fifth at 63: if Spurs do not win against Manchester City in the second half of the 34th matchday scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 14 May, Emery’s band will thus obtain the certainty of playing in the next Champions League. Klopp’s Liverpool, on his last away match in the Premier League with the Reds, already certain of third place.

ASTON VILLA-LIVERPOOL 3-3

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Emiiano Martínez; Konsa, Carlos, Pau Torres, Digne; Bailey, Douglas Luiz (80′ Chambers), McGinn, Tielemans (64′ Zaniolo – 79′ Duran); Diaby, Watkins. All.: Emery.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Gomez; Endo (76′ Szoboszlai), Elliott (75′ Gravenberch), Mac Allister; Salah, Lus Diaz (76′ Jones), Gakpo (75′ Darwin Nuñez). All.: Klopp.

Referee: Simon Hooper of Swindon.

Goals: 2′ author. Emiliano Martinez (L), 12′ Tielemans (A), 23′ Gakpo (L), 48′ Quansah (L), 85′ and 88′ Duran (A).

Assists: Watkins (A, 1-1), Gomez (L, 1-2), Elliott (L, 1-3), Chambers (A, 2-3), Diaby (A, 3-3).

Note – Cooldown: 6+9. Booked: Elliott, Luis Diaz, McGinn, Aston Villa manager Emery.

2′ – NOW OWN GOAL BY EMILIANO MARTINEZ! Elliot enters from the right, crosses from the back with a deflection from Pau Torres and the world champion goalkeeper throws it into his own goal: 0-1!

4′ – SALAH! Low left-foot shot, again with a deflection: the ball is just wide. Terrifying start for Aston Villa!

12′ – ASTON VILLA GOAL WITH TIELEMANS! McGinn lets Watkins travel to the left, who puts it on the edge of the area where he finds the Belgian midfielder’s right-footed shot: 1-1!

23′ – LIVERPOOL GOAL WITH GAKPO! Lus Diaz in the area for Joe Gomez, whose assist in the center comes out to the Dutchman with an empty net: 1-2!

36′ – KONSA SOFT FOR BAILEY WHO TAKES ALISSON OUT ON THE BOTTOM! Ball that crosses the entire goal area, without Watkins managing to deflect it into the bottom of the bag!

43′ – DIABY FROM THE EDGE OF THE AREA! Ball just over the crossbar!

45’+6 – ALEXANDER ARNOLD IN FOR SALAH! High ball from two steps: Reds one step away from 1-3

48′ – LIVERPOOL GOAL WITH QUANSAH! First goal in the Premier League by the young Res defender: free kick from the left by Elliott and imperious header by Quansah, who towers over Digne and scores, hitting the far inside post: 1-3!

52′ – GOAL DISCONNECTED AT ASTON VILLA WITH WATKINS! Counterattack played by Bailey, pass to his teammate and goal, with a dirty shot, for 2-3, canceled due to offside by Bailey himself.

54′ – ANOTHER COMBINATION IN THE AREA BAILEY-WATKINS ON AN ERROR BY ALISSON! Watkins tries to land with his heel but the conclusion is imprecise!

59′ – A GOAL AT LIVERPOOL CANCELED! Luis Diaz sprints and sends one of Elliot and Salah to shoot into an empty net, who share the responsibility for the goal by shooting practically together; however everything was cancelled.

69′ – MOVING PENALTY BY ZANIOLO! Great intervention by ALisson, another former Roma player.

77′ – CLOSE LOB ATTEMPT BY SZOBOSZLAI! Great outgoing intervention by Emiliano Martinez.

82′ – LEFT POISONED FROM OUTSIDE BY ALEXANDER-ARNOLD! Emiliano Martinez lifts the ball over the crossbar.

85′ – ASTON VILLA GOAL WITH DURAN! Mac Allister loses a bloody ball under pressure from Chambers, ball to the Colombian and low angled whip: 2-3!

87′ – GOAL DISCONNECTED AT LIVERPOOL WITH DARWIN NUÑEZ! The Uruguayan, launched deep, scores one-on-one with Emiliano Martinez, but after starting offside.

88′ – ASTON VILLA GOAL WITH DURAN! Practically fortuitous goal from the Colombian who, following a pass from Diaby, hits the ball with his right thigh during the run, mocking Alisson on the way out: 3-3!

90’+2 – DIABY NEARLY MAKES IT 4-3! Powerful falling shot, Alisson catches it with his arm!

Duran. Hero of the evening. He comes on in the 79th minute, by chance, in place of poor Zaniolo and scores a brace in the final: first with a stubborn whip from outside, then with a punctual goal.

Emiliano Martinez. Together with Mac Allister, in Liverpool. Two terrifying gaffes, theirs.

A Tom Hanks (a huge Aston Villa fan) was particularly amused in the VIP gallery…