Liverpool missed the chance to move 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League after they were held in an entertaining 2-2 draw by Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool ahead just before the half-hour mark, placing the ball into the roof of the net as the Reds ruthlessly punished Andres Garcia's poor backpass. 

But having seen an earlier goal ruled out for an offside against Marcus Rashford, Villa scored twice in 10 minutes before the break to turn the encounter on its head. 

Liverpool failed to clear Rashford's teasing delivery into the box, with Dominik Szoboszlai's clearing header met by Youri Tielemans' first-time volley that flashed past Alisson. 

Ollie Watkins then headed the hosts ahead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, guiding Lucas Digne's cross with a fine header into the bottom right-hand corner. 

Liverpool, however, restored parity in the 61st minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold's strike from the edge of the area deflected off Tyrone Mings and over Emiliano Martinez. 

Arne Slot's side continued to push for a winner and almost found it through substitute Darwin Nunez, but he somehow fired Szoboszlai's square ball over the crossbar. 

Villa themselves had two chances to snatch all three points late on, with Morgan Rogers firing over the crossbar before Donyell Malen's fierce effort narrowly evaded the far post. 

The result edged Liverpool's advantage over second-placed Arsenal to eight points, while Villa stay in ninth, five points adrift of the top four. 

Data Debrief: Cracks beginning to show at Liverpool?

Liverpool's title credentials were questioned after their nervy win over Wolves last time out, and their inability to finish their chances proved costly at Villa Park.

The Reds ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.44 from their 17 shots to Villa's 0.73 from the nine efforts they attempted during the contest. 

Nunez recorded a total of 0.76 xG with his second-half sitter, a miss that could prove costly come the end of the season. Luckily, Liverpool have Salah within their ranks. 

The Egyptian notched a goal and an assist for the 10th game in the Premier League this season, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since the great Lionel Messi in 2014-15 (11 for Barcelona) across Europe's top five leagues.