Arne Slot may find it difficult to decipher and digest a draw that ultimately tightens their grip at the top. Given how close Donyell Malen came to snatching a 95th‑minute winner, though, perhaps it will be easy enough. Trent Alexander‑Arnold rattled in a second-half equaliser to maintain Liverpool’s unbeaten away record in the league but a point was a frustrating takeaway given Darwin Núñez missed a glaring chance to put his side 3-2 up.
How much encouragement will this result give Arsenal, eight points behind the leaders with a game in hand? Diogo Jota also missed a brilliant chance for Liverpool, who seized the lead through Mohamed Salah, before goals by Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins put Villa – for whom Marcus Rashford made his first start since joining on loan from Manchester United – in front at the interval.
