Roberto Firmino delivered a moment of magic in his farewell appearance at Anfield for Liverpool, securing a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa and keeping the team’s slim hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League alive. The Brazilian striker, who is set to leave the club as his contract expires, found the back of the net in the 89th minute, prompting a heartfelt response from the crowd and leaving Firmino in tears after the match.
Manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the emotional nature of Firmino’s final game, describing it as a challenging day for the team. Liverpool, currently sitting in fifth place with 66 points and one game remaining, find themselves three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who have a game in hand. Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, currently occupy the seventh spot with 58 points from 37 matches.
Aston Villa took the lead in the 27th minute when Jacob Ramsey headed a cross from Douglas Luiz into the net, capitalizing on a period of sustained pressure. Ramsey later expressed his satisfaction with securing a point at Anfield, acknowledging the pressure faced throughout the game but highlighting the team’s resilience.
Villa had an opportunity to extend their lead when they were awarded a penalty, but Ollie Watkins missed the target. Liverpool believed they had equalized early in the second half through a close-range goal from Cody Gakpo, but VAR ruled it out for offside after a lengthy review.
In the closing minutes of the game, Liverpool mounted a fierce offensive, with chants in support of Firmino echoing through the stadium. However, their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season seem dim as both Newcastle United and Manchester United only need a single point from their remaining matches to deny Liverpool a place in Europe’s premier club competition. The last time Liverpool missed out on the Champions League was in the 2016-17 season.
Jurgen Klopp watched the match from the stands due to a touchline suspension and a fine he received for criticizing the referee after Liverpool’s victory over Tottenham. Firmino, along with Naby Keita, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, all members of the squad that won the Champions League in 2019 and secured Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years in the 2019-20 season, will be departing Anfield as their contracts expire. The four players were honored with a guard of honor and presented with framed photos in a post-game ceremony.
Liverpool was missing Darwin Nunez due to a toe injury, while Aston Villa had to do without the services of the injured Philippe Coutinho. The match had its contentious moments, including a high kick from Tyrone Mings to Gakpo’s chest, which resulted in a yellow card for Mings after a VAR review.