Unai Emery hailed Jhon Duran as a ‘special player’ after the forward came off the bench to rescue Aston Villa a draw with Liverpool.
Villa missed the chance to confirm a top-four finish and Champions League qualification after drawing 3-3 with Liverpool in a thriller at Villa Park, though a late fightback edged Emery’s side closer to a place in Europe’s elite.
Emi Martinez’s own goal saw Villa get off to a nightmare start after two minutes and an equaliser from Youri Tielemans failed to be the turning point the home side hoped. Goals from Cody Gakpo and Jarrell Quansah gave Liverpool a 3-1 lead heading into the final five minutes, before substitute Duran changed the game late on.
The 20-year-old fired in a crisp finish to give Villa hope on 85 minutes before scoring a second – and a crucial equaliser – in fortuitous fashion moments later.
Duran has now score five Premier League goals in just 373 minutes of league action and Emery hailed the Colombian as a ‘special’ talent.
“We are very proud of the season. It is not enough at the moment to get fourth,” Emery said to Sky Sports at full-time.
“We are going to prepare for the match on Sunday against Crystal Palace. Even after we scored the two goals we had chances. We are celebrating the season here with our supporters in Villa Park.
“We are only thinking of us. We will prepare for our match on Sunday, everything is in our hands.
“Jhon Duran is a special player. We have to try and help him. He is a good guy and he needs a team behind him. He is getting our demands better. He was very clinical and today was important for him.
“Today we are celebrating with our supporters, we have to push it and keep working and be consistent. We were consistent all the season. The team was being mature and always consistent in our mind. Inch by inch we did it.”
