Aston Villa 3-3 Liverpool: Duran late double rescues point for Villans in six-goal thriller

Substitute Jhon Durán scored twice in the late stages of the game to help Aston Villa secure a 3-3 draw against Liverpool, preventing consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time this season.

Liverpool initially took the lead with Emiliano Martínez's own goal, but Aston Villa quickly responded with Youri Tielemans equalizing after Ollie Watkins' impressive run.

Despite Liverpool regaining the lead with Cody Gakpo's goal, Aston Villa continued to fight back, showing resilience under Unai Emery's management.

Leon Bailey sprinted past the Liverpool defense, delivering a precise pass across the goal for Douglas Luiz to convert. However, Luiz's attempt fell short as it veered wide, leaving Villa in a state of frustration.

Reclaiming the lead seemed like a daunting task for Villa, especially considering Liverpool's unbeaten streak in Premier League games when leading at halftime since December 2016. Villa's hopes of a comeback dwindled further when Jarell Quansah's header, originating from Elliott's free-kick, looped over Martínez.

Nevertheless, the game continued with intense back-and-forth action. Watkins believed he had pulled one back for Villa, but his tap-in was disallowed due to Bailey being offside during the build-up.

Villa's persistence paid off in the end, as Calum Chambers capitalized on Alexis Mac Allister's poor touch, setting up Durán who unleashed an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner, leaving Alisson helpless.

To conclude this whirlwind contest, Durán found himself fortunate in the 89th minute when Moussa Diaby's errant shot deflected off his knee and sailed over a helpless Alisson.

With his late brace, the Colombian forward propelled Villa five points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, securing their spot in the UEFA Champions League next season if Spurs fail to win against Manchester City on Wednesday.

Despite Liverpool securing their third-place position in the PL table, Jurgen Klopp will undoubtedly feel a sense of disappointment as his team succumbed to a late collapse, resulting in dropped points at Villa Park for the first time since October 2020.