Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE: Latest Premier League updates as Gakpo scores amid three early goals

Harvey Elliott in the book for delaying Villa’s free-kick, kicking the ball after Simon Hooper commits another, shall we say, improbable foul.

Jurgen Klopp covers his face with his hat, perhaps to avoid getting rid of the official he has previously highlighted as not being his favourite.

A booking tonight for the Liverpool boss and he will miss his final game at Anfield through touchline suspension.

How the hell didn’t Villa score?! A free kick isn’t cleared, Bailey smashes it over the goal line and with Watkins waiting at the far post, Carlos gets a leg out in front of him…and pushes it wide! It looked much harder not to score, but the defender pulled through and denied his top-scoring teammate.

Villa press high and win the ball twice outside the Liverpool box, but in turn Gomez, Salah and Alexander-Arnold keep the home side at bay and clear the danger.

McGinn has a bit of a rant at the referee when a free-kick goes wide, then the referee immediately gives Villa a soft foul five seconds later as Digne goes down.

Bailey and Watkins combine once more but Van Dijk is on his way this time to block and clear. Both teams look more open than they’d like to be, but it’s certainly an entertaining encounter in this first half.

Goal scored! Gomez only a small margin of play, Gakpo more comfortable like this!

Liverpool back in front! Gakpo lays it right to Salah and his great switch sees Diaz and Gomez combine on an overlap, the latter crosses low and Gakpo continues his run to simply tap home from four or five yards .

VAR check on Gomez though.

Watkins is once again played in by Bailey and looks to round the keeper – this time Quansah deals much better with the danger, coming to close down his man.

Liverpool’s fast start has certainly faded – they now look more ragged at the back.

More impressive work from Villa now as Watkins and McGinn link up nicely. They are almost open with a pass over the top though, with Salah running in behind the entire defence, but Martinez is quickly cleared to clear and clear the danger.

Salah, Diaz and Gakpo combine in somewhat needlessly spectacular fashion, but the offside flag is just in front of the Colombian before the Dutchman hits the post. More poor defensive work from Villa though.

But up comes Villa with Watkins involved for the first time, he gets into the area on the left and pulls it back for Tielemans – who hits home first time! All square again!

Elliott was the big early threat for the visitors, twice going past his man in the box and creating danger.

Now Diaby finally does the same at the other end to beat Gomez and beat Bailey but his shot is not quite done with great connection but it’s a first attack for the hosts.