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What Tom Hanks said about Liverpool as Aston Villa man fumes with treatment

US actor Tom Hanks applauds ahead of the Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 13 2024
US actor Tom Hanks applauds ahead of the Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 13 2024 -Credit:BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images


Liverpool saw their last-ever road trip of the Jurgen Klopp era end in a six-goal thriller at Aston Villa on Monday evening.

An own goal from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, a tap-in from Cody Gakpo and a first Premier League strike for Jarell Quansah put the Reds ahead before they had to settle for a share of the spoils in an entertaining 3-3 draw. The result means Klopp’s side now have just an 82-point landmark to aim for when they finish the season at home to Wolves next Sunday.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Villa Park.

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Martinez mirth

Timing is everything in comedy. And it certainly resulted in a funny moments just seconds into Monday's game.

Martinez had been given the big build-up shortly before kick-off by the Villa stadium announcer, who proudly declared the Argentina World Cup winner as the number one goalkeeper on the planet.

Cue the former Arsenal man then almost instantly dropping a cross from Harvey Elliott and then compounding his error by flapping the loose ball into his own net. To be fair, only a very special shot-stopper manages that.

Mardy McGinn

John McGinn was a very angry man for much of the game on Monday. Not least when complaining vociferously for a lengthy period over what he believed was an elbow from Alexis Mac Allister during one tussle for possession.

And the red mist hadn't lifted when, shortly afterwards, the Villa defender went bounding into Gakpo in identical fashion.

McGinn, though, was the one left nursing a sore shoulder and required treatment before sheepishly returning to the field. Violence doesn't pay, folks.

Happy Harvey

Having been one of Liverpool's more impressive performers in recent weeks, Elliott again shone at Villa Park with two assists in a busy performance. And he should have had a goal were it not for Luis Diaz being marginally offside earlier in one move.

The travelling Kop acknowledged the efforts of the 21-year-old by giving him a standing ovation on his substitution as he departed the field by the away end before walking around the goal back to the tunnel.

And when Elliott made a chatty gesture with his hand as he passed the goading Villa fans, the Liverpool support loved it.

Hanks a lot

Tom Hanks might not be Aston Villa's most famous supporter - that'll be Prince William - but there was certainly a buzz around the stadium at the presence of the Hollywood great on the touchline before kick-off.

And his pre-match interview was enlightening, as he said: "One of the problems of being in the United States of America, every time you read the football media you always find those other teams - I'm looking for a story on Villa and you get those two Manchester teams and the ones that are in red. But more and more you're starting to see stories on Villa."

Too much Liverpool and not enough Villa? Clearly, he just needs to catch them when he can. No, you shut up.