After winning 3-0 in the rematch in September, Liverpool needed a minimum of 120 seconds to score again when the always-dependable Emiliano Martínez erred by dropping Harvey Elliott’s cross over the line after it deflected off Pau Torres.

But Ollie Watkins’s relentless drive down the right-hand side set up Youri Tielemans for a magnificent effort from the outskirts of the area to cut Liverpool’s advantage to just 10 minutes. It was the England international’s 32nd goal of the year.

Joe Gomez’s cross into the danger zone was converted by Cody Gakpo from close range, giving Liverpool the lead again after he withstood a three-minute extended offside check from VAR. Despite being unmarked in front of a blatantly open goal, Diego Carlos somehow misdirected the ball wide of the target, sending Villa into the dressing room behind at the half.

After the break, Quansah easily rose above Lucas Digne to head home Elliott’s pass for his first-ever Premier League goal, and Liverpool quickly increased their lead. At Villa Park, VAR was once again in the spotlight as Watkins’ league record-breaking 20th goal was disallowed for offside. The reason was that Leon Bailey was judged to have erred slightly past Liverpool’s final defender’s shoulder during the build-up.

As the game approached its last twenty minutes, Nicolò Zaniolo forced an astute save from Alisson, then Martínez superbly deflected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s volley over the bar at the other end of the park.

However, it was another of Emery’s substitutes that produced a jaw-dropping finish, as Durán deftly sidestepped Alexis Mac Allister and then fired a devastating shot past Alisson.

Remarkably, Durán leveled the score for Villa just three minutes later when Moussa Diaby’s bold strike unintentionally ricocheted off the Colombian international and into the net.

Finally, in the first nine minutes of stoppage time at the end of the match, Allison saved Liverpool when the Brazilian’s extended left arm palmed Diaby’s attempt away from danger.