Emiliano Martinez has set a regrettable new Premier League record following Aston Villa’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
Despite trailing 3-1, Villa salvaged a crucial point in their pursuit of Champions League qualification, thanks to a late double from Jhon Duran. While their European aspirations hang in the balance, Unai Emery’s squad remains well-placed heading into the final showdown against an in-form Crystal Palace.
Few would have felt the weight of the late comeback more than Villa’s goalkeeper Martinez, who endured a monumental error early in the match. Just two minutes into the game, Martinez inadvertently directed a Harvey Elliott cross into his own net after a deflection off Pau Torres, leaving the former Arsenal shot-stopper visibly bewildered.
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This mishap further solidified Martinez’s unfortunate place in Premier League history. As noted by TNT Sports, he is the sole goalkeeper to have conceded three own goals in the league since its inception in 1992. Remarkably, all three own goals occurred within the last three years, with Martinez inadvertently scoring against Manchester United in 2022 and Arsenal in the previous season.
The blunder against Liverpool marked Martinez’s unwanted hat-trick of own goals, a stark contrast to the praise he received from Gary Neville, who included him in his Premier League Team of the Season.
Reflecting on the match on Instagram, Martinez expressed gratitude for the support from the fans and acknowledged the upcoming final game of the season with determination.