Liverpool draw against Villa as they slip from the top four race

• Liverpool draw against Villa sees them drop points in the race for the top four in the Premier League.
• Jacob Ramsey put the visitors ahead only for Roberto Firmino to rescue a point for the Reds.

Liverpool draw against Villa sees them drop points in the race for the top four in the Premier League.

Jacob Ramsey put the visitors ahead only for Roberto Firmino to rescue a point for the Reds.

How the game unfolded

With 19 minutes played, Ibrahima Konate awkwardly took down Ollie Watkins inside the box.

Few in red could have objected when John Brooks pointed to the spot and booked Konate as a result, but they were given an early reprieve when Watkins attempted to put the ball from 12 yards out and curled his penalties wide.

However, Liverpool refused to take advantage of that opportunity as Aston Villa continued to control play. Only six minutes after Watkins flubbed his lines, the Reds were punished for their lackluster start.

Jacob Ramsey put the visitors ahead. Photo/teamTALK

After a failed corner attempt, Villa kept moving the ball about the Liverpool penalty area. Douglas Luiz was given time and space to deliver a cross into the back post, where Ramsey skillfully volleyed a shot back toward the goal and into the back of the net from a narrow-angle.

Ramsey had a great opportunity to increase the margin of victory in the 38th minute, but Alisson Becker stopped his angled shot this time. Then, after a quick Reds counterattack, Luis Diaz headed Jordan Henderson’s cross wide.

With the exception of that half-chance for Diaz, Liverpool was fairly ineffective. However, Villa benefited from two contentious refereeing decisions at the end of the first half. Tyrone Mings initially stud-caught Cody Gakpo in the midsection, but a yellow card was judged sufficient punishment.

The second half

Liverpool failed to register a single effort on goal at Anfield during the first half for the first time under Klopp, but the Reds were convinced they had equalized early in the second half when Gakpo pushed in from close range following a massive goalmouth scramble.

The goal was subsequently called off, with Virgil van Dijk found to have committed the offense, after Brooks had been strangely ordered to see the pitchside monitor to investigate a potential offside.

Although the Villa defender Ezri Konsa’s move was considered inadvertent, the ball had deflected off of him before finding Van Dijk, and Liverpool kept trying to get tempo as Unai Emery’s players were going down and wasting time.

A deft outside-of-the-foot pass from Mohamed Salah found Firmino running, who stretched out a boot and knocked in a close-range volley in front of the Kop with 89 minutes remaining.

Liverpool draw against Aston Villa after Firmino scored. Photo/ Sky Sports

With 10 minutes of extra time available to them, the home team gave Villa many concerns as Villa adopted a backs-to-the-wall stance. However, Klopp’s team would have to settle for only one point.

Next Sunday, Liverpool’s last match is against the already-relegated Southampton, while Emery’s squad hosts Brighton in a crucial matchup in the fight for European football.