Liverpool manager Arne Slot saw his team improve their Premier League title lead to eight points in a back-and-forth Week 29 game with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday.
The Reds gave away an early lead but came back to draw 2-2 with Aston Villagave away an early lead but came back to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa in a game that was moved forward from Week 29 thanks to Liverpool’s impending League Cup Final with Newcastle United.
MORE — Highlights, analysis from Villa 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have now played more matches than everyone but Villa after spending more than a month with a match-in-hand on the field, and Slot’s crew have also played three Premier League matches in eight days, drawing away days at Everton and Villa while beating Wolves 2-1.
Slot will have wanted more from that stretch, though he’ll be impressed by his side’s coming back to claim a point on Wednesday after an early Mohamed Salah goal was defied by quick fire Villa goals before the Egyptian set up Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected equalizer.
How did he view the 90 minutes?
Arne Slot reaction — Liverpool manager speaks after back-and-forth 2-2 draw at Aston Villa
“It was a great game. Going in at halftime 2-1 down, it didn’t feel like the game went for us. I was disappointed, conceding just before halftime but felt we were playing really well. We came back scoring 2-2, got some good chances to make it 3-2 but in the end the ball could’ve gone in and we would’ve lost it. Two teams played really well but I’m not happy with the result if I look at all the chances.”
“I felt we defended really well because I can’t come up with a lot of their chances. The only thing I’m not happy with is if you play a big game at Villa, you have to have a neutral set piece balance. We didn’t get that. But we created more than enough chances to score a winner.”
“There wasn’t nerves at Wolves. They were tough for us as well. To defend a lead is tough. People talk about nerves but for me it’s not. These players are used to doing it, to win a league, a trophy or an FA Cup. Today we played really well but it also has to do with the style of play of the other teams.”
“Every team has to play every team twice and this week for us Villa away and City away. You know that’s tough but we didn’t lose an away game. The only thing we can blame is we missed a few chances. A few times too many we didn’t get what we deserved and we can’t make a habit of this.”
Virgil van Dijk reaction — ‘The only task we have is to focus on ourselves’ (video)
“A bit disappointing. We had chances to win at the end. We take a point and move on.”
“In possession we did quite well. We created good opportunities to score the second. Disappointed to conceded from a set piece. We tried everything but unfortunately is wasn’t enough to create an equalizer.”
“Credit to Aston Villa. They made it difficult for us like they always do. We move on to the next one, and we have to keep fighting, keep going.”
“This is the Premier League. it’s physical for everyone, Aston Villa, us, and the other teams as well. We have a very tough one at the weekend, and then we have Newcastle, another tough one. Our focus will now be on Man City, a very difficult game. We have to fight for each and every second to win games and put points on the board. That’s the only task we have — to focus on ourselves. It’s easier said than done.”
