Trent Alexander-Arnold came to the rescue as Liverpool moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League courtesy of a pulsating 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.
Mohamed Salah got the visitors off to the perfect start when he fired home a record 15th Premier League away goal from Diogo Jota’s pass on 29 minutes.
Villa responded nine minutes later through Youri Tielemans’ superb volley before Ollie Watkins nodded Lucas Digne’s cross into the corner in first-half stoppage time.
Alexander-Arnold’s deflected strike dragged the visitors level just past the hour, but neither side could find a winner, with substitute Darwin Nunez wasting the best of the opportunities when he blazed over with an empty goal gaping.
The result means Liverpool edge eight points clear, but have now played a game more than title rivals Arsenal.
Villa stay ninth and are five points off fourth-placed Manchester City, albeit having played a game more than their rivals for a European berth.
Next up, Liverpool visit champions Manchester City on Sunday, just 24 hours after second-placed Arsenal host West Ham. Aston Villa are at home to Chelsea on Saturday evening in what could be a key battle in the hunt for the European places.