Duran Duran comeback at Villa Park

Substitute Jhon Duran hit a late double, as Aston Villa edged closer to securing Champions League football after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Villa Park on Monday night. 

The visitors took the lead almost straight from kick-off courtesy of an Emiliano Martinez own goal, but Villa were soon back on level terms thanks to Youri Tielemans' clinical equaliser. However, further strikes either side of the break, from Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah, put Liverpool seemingly on course for victory.

In a game packed full of chances and incident, Villa looked to be slipping to defeat - until Duran came off the bench to earn his side a pulsating point with two late goals.

The Action: An action-packed encounter flew out of the traps and the hosts got off to the worst possible start - falling behind within 90 seconds. 

Liverpool's Harvey Elliott made inroads down the visitors' right flank and attempted what appeared to be a relatively harmless cross with his weaker right foot. A big deflection wrong-footed Villans' keeper Emiliano Martinez, however, and after juggling the ball a bit, the Argentinian diverted the ball into his own net. 

The play was flowing from end-to-end and the hosts promptly drew level on 12 minutes after some lovely approach work from Ollie Watkins. The England striker drove into the box off the left flank and perfectly picked out Youri Tielemans, who finished emphatically. 

Villa were pressing for another, but the next goal was Liverpool's - Cody Gakpo netting his 16th goal of the campaign from close range after Joe Gomez' effort was palmed out by Martinez. 

A thrilling first-half looked destined to yield another goal, but Villa somehow contrived to miss two gilt-edged chances prior to the interval: Diego Carlos toeing wide when it appeared easier to score, and Moussa Diaby firing over when released by a sharp pass from John McGinn. 

Half-time: Villa 1-2 Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp's Reds had notched early in the first period and they repeated the trick with another goal straight after the restart. 

Harvey Elliott swung in an inviting free-kick from the left and Jarell Quansah rose well at the far post to direct a header back across goal and in off the post. The goal marked the young defender's first for Liverpool in the Premier League.

A few minutes later Villa thought they had reduced their deficit when Watkins turned the ball past Alisson from six yards out. However, a VAR review confirmed a Leon Bailey offside in the build-up and the goal was chalked off. 

Villa were on better terms with VAR shortly afterwards, however, when it was Liverpool's turn to have a goal disallowed - the officials ruling out a Mo Salah strike after reviewing the footage. 

With 79 minutes on the clock, Villa's hopes of extracting anything from the game appeared faint...but manager Unai Emery's decision to bring on Calum Chambers and Jhon Duran for Nicolo Zaniolo and Douglas Luiz certainly paid dividends. 

Colombian Duran arrowed home a fierce effort from outside the box on 85 minutes after Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister had coughed up possession and - after Darwin Nunez had had a goal disallowed for offside - Villa's sub made it 3-3 by fortunately deflecting Moussa Diaby's through ball past the stranded Alisson. 

Villa were on fire and almost grabbed a fourth goal in the 91st minute when Diaby ran through on goal only for Alisson to stand tall and save well. 

The result means that Emery's side will be in the Champions League for the first time in their history if Tottenham fail to beat Manchester City tomorrow.

If Spurs manage to win their final two matches, the Villans will need to win at Crystal Palace next Sunday.

xG: Aston Villa (3.53) 3-3 (1.81) Liverpool