Jurgen Klopp admits the win ‘got away’ from Liverpool after his side conceded two late goals to draw at Aston Villa.
Klopp’s final away game as Liverpool manager ended in a thrilling draw with Champions League chasing Aston Villa, who could have confirmed a top-four finish with three points at Villa Park.
Liverpool were gifted an opener inside two minutes when Emi Martinez scored a calamitous own goal, with the goalkeeper failing to deal with a deflected cross before fumbling the ball over his goal-line.
Youri Tielemans drilled Aston Villa level through a crowded box on 12 minutes, before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s lead after turning in from close range to score for the second successive game.
Jarrell Quansah made it 3-1 to the Reds with his first Premier League goal as the defender rose to meet Harvey Elliott’s delivery and plant a superb header into the top corner.
Liverpool looked to have done enough to earn all three points, until the impact of super-sub Jhon Duran. The Colombian scored twice inside the final five minutes to rescue a result for Aston Villa, in a chaotic conclusion to an entertaining affair.
“It got away from us. We played really good football. We were really good, played a lot of good stuff and caused a lot of problems,” Klopp reflected to Sky Sports.
“Before we changed, we gave them too many chances. It was very intense for the boys. They created too much. They were too often in our box and we made the changes. Then we made a mistake. It happens but in that moment, it opens the door.
“They scored an equaliser and I don’t even know how. The character from the boys tonight was outstanding in our situation. We wanted to win the game. In the moment, when we gave away the 3-2, that was really tricky. That’s it, that’s the story of the game.”
