Premier League
Aston Villa 4 – 2 Liverpool FT
Ollie Watkins scored two goals and set up another as Aston Villa swept aside Liverpool to secure Champions League football next season.
Morgan Rogers gave Villa a first-half lead with a wonderful strike before Virgil van Dijk headed home an equaliser for Liverpool shortly after the break.
But five minutes later, Watkins capitalised on a slip by Dominik Szoboszlai to restore Villa's advantage, before getting another from close range in the 73rd minute.
And there was still time for John McGinn to bend home a belter as Liverpool fell to their 19th defeat of the season in all competitions, with Van Dijk's injury-time second just a consolation for the visitors.
Another loss for Liverpool means Arne Slot's side are still not guaranteed Champions League football next season and that race could go to the final day of the season, depending on Brighton and Bournemouth's results.
Unai Emery's Villa can now look forward to Wednesday's Europa League Final against Freiburg in Istanbul, where they will look to win their first major trophy in 30 years.
Despite that seismic occasion on the horizon for Villa, Emery named the same side that beat Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final while Liverpool were without Alexander Isak again as the Premier League record signing was not risked due to a minor injury.
In a relatively quiet first half, it was Villa who broke the deadlock after a wonderful set-piece routine from a corner that caught Liverpool out and ended with Rogers curling in for his 10th league goal of the season.
Liverpool levelled in the 52nd minute with a set-piece of their own when Szoboszlai's free-kick found Virgil van Dijk's head.
Rio Ngumoha then struck the post with an effort from outside the box but Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall again when Szoboszlai slipped deep in his own half and Rogers turned provider as he teed up Watkins, who finished past Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Slot turned to his bench, throwing on Florian Wirtz and Federico Chiesa, but Villa were relentless and shortly after Emiliano Buendia struck the woodwork with an incredible effort, Watkins was on hand to tap in from close range after Mamardashvili had denied Pau Torres.
Mohamed Salah returned off the bench as Liverpool tried to force a way back but it was McGinn who put the icing on the cake with a solid strike from outside the box before Van Dijk got a consolation late on for the visitors.
Aston Villa analysis: Perfect way to send Villans off to Istanbul
Emery has had yet another stellar season and next week could be magical for anyone associated with Villa, with the prospect of a first European trophy in 44 years
It is easy to forget that Villa had no wins in their first five Premier League games this campaign but securing a top-five finish and winning a trophy would represent a hugely successful return.
Emery's team selection was strong and his players delivered, with an energetic performance that was simply too good for Liverpool.
Watkins was a man possessed and has been directly involved in more goals than any other Englishman has across all competitions this season for a Premier League club (24 – 19 goals, 5 assists).
That is one more than teammate Morgan Rogers (23 – 13 goals, 10 assists), who himself was too hot to handle and McGinn's goal was the perfect way to send the Villa fans to Istanbul.
After the final whistle, the Champions League anthem was played on the sound system at Villa Park. Villa fans have plenty to look forward to.
Liverpool analysis: A season that goes from bad to worse
Where do you start with Liverpool? This is a side that is fragile and carved open at ease and they were ripped apart here.
"They are very poor in possession and very poor out of possession," said Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports pre-match. That summed it up.
Bar the spark of 17-year-old Ngumoha and Van Dijk from set-pieces, Liverpool struggled attackingly.
Fundamental to next season will be the ability to get the best out of Wirtz and Isak because right now, Liverpool are not feared.
Defensively, their season goes from bad to worse. Slot's men have conceded more than 50 goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign for the first time (52).
And that is now one draw and seven defeats in eight away games against teams in the Premier League top nine this season. One point in those games is a shocking return for any team, never mind a side trying to defend a Premier League title.
Champions League football should still be secured but Liverpool are making seriously hard work out of it, with just one point in their last three games.
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What's next for both teams?
Aston Villa take on German side Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday (20:00 BST) before concluding their Premier League campaign away to Manchester City next Sunday (16:00 BST).
Liverpool host Brentford at Anfield next Sunday (16:00 BST) in what will be Salah and Andy Robertson's last game for the club.
