Aston Villa 1-4 Liverpool

After a stressful week, a COVID-hit Aston Villa side faced Liverpool in the FA Cup 3rd round. Due to an outbreak of the virus at the Aston Villa training ground, they were forced to field a squad of youth players. Louie Barry was the main star of the team, having signed in the summer from European giants Barcelona for just under £900,000. Jurgen Klopps side didn't change his squad much, with Salah and Mane both starting for the Premier League champions. 

From the off, it was clear how the game was going to be played out, Liverpool keeping the ball, making the young Villa players chase the ball, and it only took 4 minutes for Curtis Jones to pick out Sadio Mane in the box, who's header looped over the outstretched goalkeeper into the top corner. Mane and his side seemed reluctant to celebrate, and after the goal it was the same, Liverpool passed and passed and created chance after chance. Hungarian born Akos Onodi, the 19 year old goalkeeper for Aston Villa pulled off some great saves to stop a 2nd goal. As the game went on however, Aston Villa seemed to get more into the game, and Callum Rowe was able to play a ball through to striker Louie Barry, who's pace was too much for Liverpool defender Rhys Williams, and he calmly placed the ball into the corner to give his side a shock equaliser. The Villa players celebrated, and took the game into half time all square at 1-1, something nobody saw coming.

It was clear Jurgen Klopp was not happy with his side, and after coming out of the dressing room at the break, they seemed more hungry for a goal, as they realised the opposition was a lot tougher than they anticipated. Villa held on for as long as they could, but right on the hour mark Gini Wijnaldum made it 2-1 with a neatly placed finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Before Villa even had a chance to reply, Mane scored his second header of the game 3 minutes later, and not long after Mo Salah made it 4. Within minutes, the game had gotten away from a tired Villa side. Liverpool saw the game out from there, as they held onto the ball throughout.

Despite the result, the team with the average age of just 18 years old played phenomenally, and received tons of deserved praise from the football world. Louie Barry stole the show after his fine finish, but as a whole the team played a great game against one of Europe's top teams.