Three points separate Aston Villa and Liverpool after 37 games but here was a night when the difference between them felt as vast as 3,000 miles.
Villa are heading to Istanbul and their biggest occasion in a generation brimming with belief, the potential to crown a thrilling campaign with a first piece of silverware since 1996 and a place in next season’s Champions League already secure. The Europa League final is there to be attacked.
Unai Emery’s team aren’t perfect but when the mood grips them, they are exhilarating with their pace, power and relentless pursuit of goals. Spearheaded by Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, who shared three goals, they ran over Liverpool like a turbo-charged steamroller.
“Absolutely bril-li-ant!” Emery exclaimed, breaking down the last word into syllables for effect. “Fantastic!”
And what of that flattened team? Liverpool are a shell of what they are supposed to be. Their play is slow, they meander through patches and the fact they can still qualify for the Champions League is a measure of how erratic the Premier League has been rather than it being any great achievement.
They have conceded 52 goals so far – a club record for a 38-game campaign – and this was defeat number 20 if you include the Community Shield loss on penalties to Crystal Palace. It is a scandalous figure that makes a mockery of their status. Champions don’t lose 20 games.
Arne Slot knows the buck stops with him and for all that Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, retain faith in him, the pressure from fans is reaching intolerable levels. Extricating himself from the position he is currently in will be an act to rival Houdini.
“I can understand, at this moment in time, [the fans] don’t have a lot of confidence or a lot of feeling that things can be much better next season,” Slot acknowledged. “But I think then they are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do.
“We know quite well what to improve. One of the things we have to improve is very, very obvious and I would have preferred not to talk about it here but you’re actually almost forcing me to. If you miss nine players that can start a game of football… I think the difference is big.”
It’s impossible not to notice a fragility around Liverpool at present and this patched-up team gave the impression in the opening 15 minutes that they were simply waiting to concede, as had been the case at Manchester United two weeks ago.
Really, there were fortunate not to concede in the first attack. Rogers set off on one of those direct runs, straight through the middle of the pitch, and he found space opening up, enabling him to nudge a pass into Watkins. His partner-in-crime’s finish was weak but the tone was set.
Liverpool, for a period, came forward. The outlet, of course, was Rio Ngumoha, who has become a beacon of hope in the gloom. You can argue that too much is expected of a 17-year-old, whose experience is limited, but this youth, with his dancing feet, is fearless.
A slaloming run in the 25th minute, when he cut in off the left, ended with him thrashing a shot over the bar and into the Holte End, while another foray culminated in Cody Gakpo having a goal ruled for offside. The decision wasn’t even close.
Slot would argue that his team had control at this stage but the counter to it would be the fact that without any penetration from the flanks or through the middle, there was never any real sign of them doing anything to take Villa into a place they didn’t want to be.
If anything, you were waiting for Villa to take back control and so it proved. They took the lead just before half-time when Rogers, such a busy and industrious figure, found some space following a well-worked short corner and flipped an effort beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The finish was beautiful and the execution around the dead ball was slick but how Austin MacPhee, Villa’s set-piece coach, was happy to let everyone know he was the brains behind it, punching the air and taking Rogers’s appreciation.
A few feet away, Slot cut a totally different figure and more worrying for him was the fact that one corner of the Trinity Road Stand, housing the away fans, began to empty: queueing for a half-time pint was more attractive than watching Liverpool labour.
If they returned refreshed, so did their team. Liverpool took the game to Villa at the beginning of the second period and restored parity when Virgil van Dijk arrived at the back post to plant a header, complete with a satisfying thud, beyond the despairing grasp of Emiliano Martínez.
Had Ngumoha’s shot, three minutes later, gone in then things would have been different but when Dominik Szoboszlai slipped and presented Rogers with the chance to pilfer a loose ball and set up Watkins, normal service was resumed. There was only going to be one winner from this point.
Watkins made sure of three points and, most probably, fourth place – how the stadium DJ enjoyed playing the Champions League anthem at the final whistle – when bundling in from close range before the irrepressible John McGinn completed the drubbing with a glorious curling effort.
There was time for Van Dijk to pull a goal back but, really, it was an irrelevance. Two clubs are heading in completely different directions.
10:51pm
Emery overjoyed with tonight’s result
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Aston Villa manager said:
“Fantastic, today the match was very important for us because the the priority was the Premier League. We faced Liverpool and tested ourselves. It was a tough match in the first half but the second half was fantastic. I am grateful for the supporters. Champions League, this is something amazing.
“To compete in both competitions and being consistent is not easy, we had fantastic season in the Premier League. I am so proud.
“Now we focus on final. We have to focus 100%, be ready. To play finals is very difficult. We are going to enjoy it.”
10:39pm
Slot reflects on a damaging evening
10:20pm
Up next for both clubs
Villa will face Freiburg in the Europa League final on May 20 in Istanbul, before playing Manchester City in their last Premier League game of the season next Sunday. Meanwhile, Liverpool, who are still waiting to seal Champions League qualification, will play Brentford on May 24 to round off their top-flight campaign.
10:16pm
Listen to McGinn’s reaction
10:15pm
Where do Liverpool go from here?
This defeat leaves Slot’s men in fifth, having conceded 52 goals in 37 Premier League outings. The pressure will continue to build on Slot and his underperforming players.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool deservedly lost against Aston Villa – Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Europe
10:03pm
Champions League celebrations
09:59pm
FT: Aston Villa 4 Liverpool 2
Villa have done it. In their last home game of the season, Emery’s side have booked their place in next season’s Champions League courtesy of a fantastic 4-2 win over Liverpool at Villa Park. Watkins scored twice, while Rogers and McGinn also added goals to crown a rampant Villa performance. Van Dijk netted a double for Liverpool, but this wasn’t enough for the reigning Premier League champions, who have now suffered 12 top-flight defeats and are floundering in fifth position.
09:55pm
90+5 min: Aston Villa 4 Liverpool 2
Villa are minutes away from confirming their place in next season’s Champions League.
09:53pm
GOAL! Van Dijk has a double and reduces the deficit
Liverpool play a short corner, with Szoboszlai digging out a searching delivery for Van Dijk. The Liverpool captain rises highest and glances in a late consolation for the visitors.
09:48pm
GOAL! McGinn’s beauty ensures that Villa have four
McGinn receives the ball out wide and stands up Kerkez. Villa’s captain uses the Liverpool defender as a wall and curls a sumptuous effort around him and into the top corner. Mamardashvili can do nothing to prevent that moment of magic from McGinn.
09:47pm
88 min: Aston Villa 3 Liverpool 1
Liverpool are trying to fashion a few half-hearted attacks, but they can’t break Villa down.
09:44pm
85 min: Aston Villa 3 Liverpool 1
Buendia has worked incredibly hard this evening and he comes off to a standing ovation as he’s replaced by Maatsen for the remaining minutes.
09:43pm
83 min: Aston Villa 3 Liverpool 1
Ngumoha clips a cross into Van Dijk, who is played onside by Buendia. The Liverpool captain heads the ball down to Chiesa and the substitute’s close-range strike is heroically blocked by Martinez.
09:40pm
81 min: Aston Villa 3 Liverpool 1
Villa look like they could score every time they get near to Liverpool’s box. The visitors have lost their discipline, defensive structure and attacking threat. They’re lucky that Villa haven’t scored five or six.
09:37pm
77 min: Aston Villa 3 Liverpool 1
Amid all the chaos, Salah was introduced into the action shortly after that third Villa goal. Barring a late miracle, Liverpool look set for another defeat in what has been a terrible season.
09:35pm
GOAL! Watkins has a brace and extends Villa’s lead
Villa deserve the lead and now have an invaluable two-goal advantage. Liverpool fail to clear a corner and Mamardashvili parries Tielemans’ volley back into the danger-zone. Pau Torres can’t convert the first rebound, but Watkins is there to bundle in the next attempt. Villa are flying and Liverpool are all over the place.
09:31pm
70 min: Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
Villa are so close to a third as Buendia curls a beauty against the bar. The diminutive Argentine cuts inside and from the angle, he bends a fantastic effort towards goal. Time almost stands still as the shot smashes off the woodwork. Somehow, the scoreline stays 2-1 to Villa.
09:29pm
68 min: Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
Martinez comes out and catches a free-kick, before launching the ball up to Watkins. The striker takes an exquisite touch, but underhits the pass to Rogers, who sprints the length of the pitch to support the forward. Watkins’ ball is intercepted and the chance disappears, but Villa are ripping Liverpool apart at every opportunity.
09:27pm
67 min: Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
McGinn pushes Kerkez to the ground and is penalised with a yellow card. Liverpool then make a double change as Wirtz and Chiesa replace Gravenberch and Gomez.
09:25pm
65 min: Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
Rogers and Watkins combine once again. The attacking midfielder spots the striker’s run and threads a ball through the Liverpool defence. From a tight angle, Watkins tries to squeeze an effort under the onrushing Mamardashvili, but the Liverpool goalkeeper makes an important save.
09:22pm
63 min: Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
Gomez is shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Buendia. This game is really heating up now.
09:21pm
59 min: Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
In the blink of an eye Watkins is through on goal again. On this occasion, Mamardashvili does tremendously to close the angle down and smother the Englishman’s effort.
09:17pm
GOAL! Watkins restores Villa’s lead after Szoboszlai’s slip
What a horrible moment for Szoboszlai. Liverpool take a throw-in and the midfielder has the ball in a deep position, but he slips, allowing Rogers to race clear. The playmaker tees up Watkins, who slides a close-range effort into the bottom corner. Liverpool were only level for a matter of minutes.
09:16pm
56 min: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 1
Liverpool strike the post! Ngumoha dances inside of Cash and McGinn, before curling a powerful effort at goal which looks to be heading for the bottom corner. The strike cannons off the post and Gakpo can’t turn in the rebound.
09:11pm
GOAL! Van Dijk levels it for Liverpool
Szoboszlai whips a menacing free-kick into the box. Van Dijk is unmarked at the back post after shrugging off Cash, before coolly planting a header into the bottom corner. The goal survives a VAR check for a potential foul on Cash and a close offside call. The Liverpool fans celebrate and we’re all square at Villa Park.
09:10pm
50 min: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0
Nguomha dashes round the outside of Cash and gets to the byline to dig out a cross. Both sets of players stop, believing the ball has gone out, but the referee waves play on. The move ends with Jones and Gomez unleashing shots, but both efforts are blocked by the Villa defence.
09:07pm
48 min: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool are playing an incredibly high line. Tielemans has a glaring opportunity to play in Digne, but the midfielder overhits the pass, allowing Mamardashvili to come out and gather.
09:05pm
46 min: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0
We are back under way for the second half. Villa have made a half-time alteration, with Barkley replacing Lindelof, while Liverpool are unchanged at the break.
09:00pm
Rogers’ superb goal separates the sides
08:49pm
HT: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0
In an evenly-matched game in the Midlands, Villa head into the break with a slender 1-0 advantage over Liverpool thanks to Rogers’ late first half goal. Until that opener, Liverpool had arguably been the better team, with Gakpo having a goal ruled out for offside, before Szoboszlai’s long-range strike was tipped away by Martinez. However, Liverpool have been fragile all season and were sliced upon by Villa at a corner, with Rogers applying a devastating finish to put the home side in front.
08:49pm
45+3 min: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0
Watkins receives a needless yellow card at the end of the first half after kicking the ball into the net when he was flagged offside.
08:47pm
45 min: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0
If the result stays like this then Villa will be on their way to the Champions League, regardless of what happens in next week’s European final.
Morgan Rogers has opened the scoring but Austin McPhee, Aston Villa’s setpiece coach, is clearly claiming an assist given how he has celebrated. In fairness, it was a well worked corner but Liverpool’s defending was, to be generous, horribly passive.
08:42pm
GOAL! Rogers curls in a stunner to open the scoring for Villa
Liverpool are asleep and Villa pounce. Digne and McGinn play a long-range one-two at the corner, with the full-back eventually passing to Rogers, who was unmarked inside the penalty area. The playmaker takes the ball on the half-turn, before curling a sensational effort into the far corner. It’s a delightful finish, but Liverpool’s defending is dreadful. Rogers runs over to set-piece coach Austin McPhee and congratulates him. Villa had clearly rehearsed that corner routine and it has worked wonders.
08:41pm
41 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Watkins gets into a channel and tries to run at Konate. The Liverpool defender does excellently to shield his goal and not allow the striker to shoot or cross the ball. Rogers then swings in a menacing cross, but it evades his teammates who were waiting in the penalty area.
08:39pm
39 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Cash receives the first yellow card of the game after catching Kerkez with a late challenge. The right back will need to be careful now, especially with Nguomha running at him on the wing.
08:38pm
37 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai’s latest corner is punched away by Martinez, who was under serious pressure from multiple Liverpool players and did really well to reach the ball. The home side are struggling to break out of their own half at the moment.
08:34pm
33 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai curls a corner into the box. Mac Allister wins the header at the near post but the 2022 World Cup winner glances his effort over the bar. Liverpool are beginning to grow into this game, with Villa handing the momentum over to the visitors.
Unai Emery wouldn’t ever be one to take things easy but, after the opening flurry, you get the distinct impression that a draw would suit both teams very nicely. The intensity has dropped and a slower game has actually enabled Liverpool to look the better side. That, to be clear, is not a compliment.
08:32pm
31 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai picks up the ball in a central position and unleashes a venomous long-range strike at goal. Martinez reacts well and makes an eye-catching diving save to parry the ball away for a corner.
08:31pm
30 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Rio Ngumoha has been Liverpool’s brightest player so far – Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters
08:29pm
27 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Once again, Ngumoha cuts inside. This time, he tees up Gravenberch, who curls a long-range effort at Martinez. The Villa goalkeeper spills it, allowing Gakpo to capitalise and slot in a close-range rebound. However, Liverpool’s celebrations are cut short, with Gakpo offside by quite a distance.
08:27pm
26 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
The sides look evenly-matched at Villa Park – Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe
08:25pm
25 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Ngumoha has looked lively in these opening 25 minutes. The Liverpool winger cuts inside of Cash, before firing a long range effort at goal. He gets too much power on the strike and it flies over.
08:24pm
23 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai clips a cross towards Van Dijk at the back post. The Liverpool captain wins the header and nods it down to Gakpo, who is challenged by Konsa. The Villa centre-back wins the ball and there’s some muted Liverpool appeals for a penalty, but the referee isn’t interested.
08:21pm
20 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Gomez takes aim from range and shoots but slips as his effort comfortably sails well over the bar.
08:19pm
18 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Van Dijk picks out Ngumoha with a glorious long ball. It floats over the retreating Cash, but Ngumoha takes a poor touch, allowing the Villa defender to scramble the ball clear.
08:15pm
14 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Villa undoubtedly look like the more confident side in these early stages. Van Dijk is annoyed with Mamardashvili as the Liverpool goalkeeper doesn’t come off his line to collect Tielemans’ loose pass. This forces the centre-back into a rushed clearance and he makes his feelings clear to Mamardashvili.
08:13pm
11 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Watkins is back on his feet and re-enters the action. He’s nearly gifted a chance straight away as Mamardashvili rushes out to intercept the ball, but he fluffs his clearance. Watkins and Rogers pounce, but the latter is forced too far wide and can’t find a Villa shirt with his cross. Mamardashvili looks very unconvincing.
08:09pm
9 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
This is very concerning for Villa. After that earlier chance, Watkins has stayed down and is receiving treatment after taking that shot. He seems to be holding his hip.
That’s a worrying moment for Unai Emery and Ollie Watkins. The England striker has gone down independently after blasting a shot over the bar and is receiving lengthy treatment. The last thing either man needs is an issue before Aston Villa go to Istanbul. He’s had a season of contrasting fortunes, he doesn’t need an injury ahead of the biggest game of all.
08:09pm
7 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Kerkez and Nguomha combine well on the left, but the full-back’s searching cross is headed away by Digne. Szoboszlai looks to be lining up on the right, while Jones is playing as a central playmaker, having deputised at full-back last week.
Buendia plays in Watkins with a crisp pass. The Villa striker does excellently to skip inside of Van Dijk and shoot, but he’s off balance so his effort flies wide.
08:06pm
5 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
There have been a couple of sleepy moments for Liverpool’s midfield duo of Mac Allister and Gravenberch, who haven’t been fully switched on. Villa come forward again and Digne aims a bouncing cross towards Watkins, but Van Dijk defends well and shrugs the striker off the ball.
08:03pm
2 min: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
Villa dispossess Gravenberch and the home side burst forward on the counter. Rogers leads the attack and plays in Watkins, who swivels and shoots first time, but Mamardashvili gets down low and makes an important early stop.
08:01pm
Kick-off
Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai gets us under way at Villa Park by booting the ball out of play for a throw-in.
07:57pm
The players emerge from the tunnel
The atmosphere inside Villa Park is electric. Kick-off between Aston Villa and Liverpool is just minutes away. Can either side cement their place in next season’s Champions League?
European vibes in the air tonight for the home fans, who are ready to give their team a big send-off before they go to Istanbul. Outside the stadium, the home contingent were having pictures taken with a replica European Cup, the symbol of 1982 in Rotterdam, and they expectation is high. Liverpool, by contrast, arrive here on low ebb and without Alexander Isak once again. He, as much as anyone, represents a symbol of why this campaign cannot end quick enough for Arne Slot’s squad.
07:53pm
A reminder of the starting line-ups
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Lindelof, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Ngumoha, Gakpo.
07:45pm
Current Villa squad on the verge of history
Midlands football reporter John Percy analysed how the Aston Villa players could end the club’s major trophy drought and write their names into the history books following their second leg triumph over Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final:
“Aston Villa’s current generation of players were fearing a reputation as the “nearly men”, but could now become legends by winning the club’s first trophy in 30 years.
“In front of the Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne, Europa League king Unai Emery reached another show-piece event to allow Villa to dream of writing some history.
“It has been more than 10,000 days since they last lifted silverware with their League Cup triumph of 1996, but they will face Freiburg in the final later this month with Emery targeting his fifth trophy in the competition.”
07:40pm
Both teams out for their warm-ups
07:39pm
Slot gives an update on his team selection and the absences
07:32pm
Konate also speaks ahead of tonight’s match
07:29pm
Listen to Emery’s pre-match thoughts
07:25pm
Slot booed for Ngumoha’s withdrawal against Chelsea
It was Rio Ngumoha’s 67th-minute departure for Alexander Isak which triggered a torrent of boos aimed at Arne Slot in the game against Chelsea last Saturday. The young winger starts this evening, with Mo Salah also retuning to the bench following an injury.
Rio Ngumoha starts tonight and will be looking to make an impact for Liverpool – PETER POWELL/EPA/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Editorial
Mo Salah is back for Liverpool as the club aims to return to winning ways – PETER POWELL/EPA/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Editorial
07:15pm
Both sets of players arriving earlier
07:11pm
Jamie Redknapp underlines the importance of Champions League qualification for Liverpool
07:10pm
Lee Hendrie praises Aston Villa’s determination
07:08pm
Dominic King’s view on Slot’s precarious position
Following the disappointing 1-1 draw with Chelsea, our Merseyside Football Reporter Dominic King assessed how the current disconnect and toxicity at Anfield under Arne Slot feels eerily similar to Roy Hodgson’s disastrous tenure.
“Fifteen years ago, the disconnect between Liverpool’s manager and fans became intolerable. Against Chelsea, it felt even more toxic.”
You can read Dominic’s full article here.
Arne Slot is under serious pressure at Liverpool – Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/Getty Images
07:00pm
The teams in full
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Lindelof, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Barkley, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Ngumoha, Gakpo.
Subs: Woodman, Wirtz, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, Ndiaye, Wright, McConnell.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
06:47pm
Liverpool team news
Arne Slot has opted to make just one change to the side that drew against Chelsea. It sees Jeremie Frimpong drop out of the squad, with Joe Gomez taking his place in the starting 11. Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz both return to the matchday squad, but begin on the bench, while Alexander Isak is missing altogether and Alisson is still sidelined.
06:47pm
Aston Villa team news
Unai Emery has made three alterations to the team that drew 2-2 with Burnley. Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Emi Buendia replace Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley. Amadou Onana, Alysson and Boubacar Kamara all remain absent with injuries.
06:46pm
Mood low at Liverpool
Despite being on the same points as Villa, Liverpool’s season has been a disaster, with the pressure on Arne Slot ramping up. The reigning champions drew 1-1 with Chelsea last Saturday, leaving them in fourth, an eye-watering 20 points behind first-place Arsenal.
Liverpool struggled against Chelsea and suffered a disappointing 1-1 draw at Anfield – Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/Getty Images
06:41pm
Morale high at Villa
Aston Villa progressed into the Europa League final in style, beating Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final on May 7 to seal a 4-1 aggregate victory. Three days later, Unai Emery’s side faced Burnley at Turf Moor in the Premier League and drew 2-2, meaning their spot in next season’s Champions League isn’t fully confirmed ahead of tonight’s fixture at Villa Park.
Aston Villa will play Freiburg in the Europa League final following their emphatic victory over Nottingham Forest – Marc Atkins – AVFC/Aston Villa FC
Aston Villa slipped up against Burnley and drew 2-2 – Lee Parker – CameraSport/Getty Images
06:32pm
Tonight’s setting
06:30pm
Can either side secure Champions League qualification this evening?
Good evening and welcome to our live blog for this Premier League game between Aston Villa and Liverpool, with both clubs aiming to seal their passage into next season’s Champions League.
Villa are fifth, just one place behind Liverpool on goal difference, while high-flying Bournemouth sit sixth, four points behind tonight’s duo with two games remaining. However, a win for either side here at Villa Park would secure Champions League qualification. The losers could still be supplanted by Andoni Iraola’s men, who play Manchester City next Tuesday at the Vitality Stadium.
Villa have the added security of next week’s Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul, which provides another possible route for Unai Emery’s side into the Champions League, if they fail to finish in the top five of the Premier League. This creates an interesting dynamic for this evening’s fixture: will Emery rest some key players with one eye on the final or will he go full strength to build momentum and get the job done early?
The last time the Spanish manager named a rotated line-up for a league fixture in favour of European competition, it went disastrously. On May 3, Villa made seven changes to the team that lost 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest and suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur.
With the return fixture just four days later, Emery’s decision was somewhat understandable, but Villa’s performance was so abject that it didn’t yield a shot on target until the 96th minute and created a cauldron of anxiety ahead of the semi-final second leg. The risk paid off as Villa breezed into the Europa League final courtesy of a 4-0 hammering of Forest.
Villa’s progress in Europe has caused the club’s Premier League form to dip. They’ve managed just one victory in their previous five top-flight matches, and are winless in the last three, drawing 2-2 with Burnley on Sunday. But the chance to end a 30-year drought for a major trophy in their first European final since 1982 means that everyone associated with Villa is brimming with excitement.
There isn’t the same buzz around Liverpool at the moment. Arne Slot’s side delivered an uninspiring performance in a forgettable 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield last Saturday. There were boos at half-time, during the second half and on the final whistle, throwing the manager’s future into doubt.
Slot has responded by saying that he has been given “every reason to believe” the club’s owners still back him, but also understands the fans’ frustration.
“I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season,” he said. “First of all, I am contracted to this club [until 2027] and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.
“But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – but if you compare it with last season, this has definitely not been a great season, then it is also normal that criticism comes.
“We have all had our share – and with ‘all’ I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.”
It promises to be an intriguing encounter. Kick-off is at 20:00, with team news coming shortly.
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