Aston Villa qualified for the Champions League in style after leapfrogging Liverpool with a stirring victory that exposed the blind spots that have undermined Arne Slot’s meek title defence. Ollie Watkins scored twice after Virgil van Dijk had cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ brilliant, curling opener before Villa’s captain, John McGinn, completed the rout from the edge of the box.
Liverpool have now conceded a league-high 20 goals from set pieces this season, Rogers benefiting from a well-worked corner routine in the first half and Watkins in the second. For Villa, whose league form had been indifferent since the turn of the year, a confidence-inducing victory before Wednesday’s Europa League final.
John McGinn’s reaction
It’s a great performance and a great way to end the season at Villa Park. How can you not [be full of confidence]? We’ve just made this club a Champions League club again, and it allows us to be excited and enjoy the game on Wednesday.
We’ve got a chance to get some silverware but the fact we’re in the Champions League is an unbelievable achievement.
We’re so fortunate to have him. What he’s done for this club is incredible.
[On the Europa League final] It’ll be the pinnacle of my Aston Villa career. Hopefully I’ll get my hands on that trophy. We need to play the game, not the occasion.
“First off, well played Villa,” says Stephen Cottrell. “Tonight should be about them. Second, the five players Liverpool are missing:
James Milner
Jordan Henderson
Sadio Manê
Pele
Bobby bloody Moore.”
Full time: Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool
A great night for Aston Villa, who secured a Champions League place by running Liverpool ragged at Villa Park. The outstanding Ollie Watkins scored twice, with Morgan Rogers and John McGinn curling superb goals of their own.
Virgil van Dijk headed both Liverpool’s goals, but they were so vulnerable defensively and could have lost by more.
90+8 min By the way I missed a couple of Villa substitutions straight after McGinn’s goal. Douglas Luiz and Jadon Sancho came on for John McGinn and Youri Tielemans.
90+7 min The manner of this victory should give Villa so much confidence heading into the Europa League final. Better still, it looks like their key players all got through the game unscathed.
90+4 min “Go on then, who are the four of five players Slot is missing?” says Matt Burgess. “Serious question? Slot is not a man-manager. He’s an injury-avoidance manager.”
Don’t take it out on me! But since you asked: Isak, Ekitike, Alisson, Wirtz, maybe Frimpong, maybe Salah. Yes, I know Wirtz and Salah are on the field now but they weren’t fit to start the game.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool (Van Dijk 90+2)
The resulting corner is taken short by Szoboszlai on the left. He lends the ball to Kerkez, then lifts an inviting cross that is headed in at the far post by Van Dijk. It’s his second goal of the night.
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90+1 min The brilliant Ngumoha plays a slick one-two with Kerkez and hits a shot that deflects behind off Konsa.
90 min There will be eight minutes of added time. For all Liverpool’s fragility, Villa have been fantastic tonight, every bit as good as they were against Forest in the Europa League semi-final second leg.
Villa worked the ball across the edge of the area from left to right. McGinn stopped the ball dead, took a mental snapshot and flipped a gorgeous curling shot into the far top corner. Mamardashvili got a slight touch as he leapt to his right but he couldn’t keep it out.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 4-1 Liverpool (McGinn 89)
John McGinn brings the house down with another fabulous goal!
86 min Liverpool have picked up only one point from eight games away to the teams in the top nine. That’s another pretty grim statistic.
84 min: Villa substitution Emi Buendia is replaced by Ian Maatsen.
83 min Ngumoha’s deep cross from the left is headed back across by Van Dijk to Chiesa, whose close-range volley is well saved by Martinez.
83 min If it stays like this, Liverpool may need to beat Brentford at Anfield next weekend to qualify for the Champions League. Or they may not – it depends on the results of Bournemouth v Manchester City and Aston Villa v Freiburg.
80 min Another knife-through-butter counter-attack from Villa falls down when Barkley overhits his pass to Rogers.
78 min Liverpool have conceded 76 goals in all competition this season, the most since they shipped 83 in 1992-93.
76 min “Remember Brendan Rodgers got an extra season in 2015 only to be canned in the autumn?” writes Niall Mullen. “Based largely on a title challenge off the back of a generational player having an all-time season. All of which leads me to believe Klopp will be back in October.”
Does that mean you’ll be signing James Milner this summer?
75 min: Liverpool substitution Mo Salah is on for Cody Gakpo.
When the corner was eventually taken, Konsa went down appealing for a penalty after another, a-hem, interaction with Mac Allister. Play continued and Mamardashvili made a fine double save from Tielemans and Pau – but he could do nothing to stop Watkins forcing the loose ball home from five yards. Watkins has been electric.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 3-1 Liverpool (Watkins 73)
Aston Villa are romping into the Champions League!
71 min: VAR check Mac Allister goes down holding his face after an altercation with Konsa. It’s a load of nonsense, really. They pushed each other in the chest, at which point Konsa grabbed a bit of Mac Allister’s shirt and moved his hand towards his face. It wasn’t a punch, not even close, and it’s been cleared by VAR.
70 min: Buendia hits the bar!
Villa have run Liverpool ragged in the second half. This time it’s the turn of Buendia, who cuts inside from the left and curls an extravagant shot towards the far corner. It beats Mamardashvili – he didn’t move – and hits the crossbar.
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69 min “They need to get rid of this pointless open-play business,” writes Paul Griffin. “All this passing and movement is betraying the essence of the game, which is to whip the ball into the back stick towards a group of men in pastel shirts jostling and bumping like they’re having an altercation in a 3am kebab house.”
I swear I heard Pointless Open-Play Business on 6 Music earlier. Or was it 3am Kebab House?
68 min A glorious chance for Villa on the break. Martinez’s quick kick out is controlled excellently by Watkins – but then he underhits a simple through pass to Rogers. That allows the last defender Kerkez to make a vital challenge.
67 min: Double substitution for Liverpool Federico Chiesa and Florian Wirtz replace Ryan Gravenberch and Joe Gomez.
66 min McGinn is booked for leaving a bit on Kerkez.
65 min: Mamardashvili denies Watkins again! Watkins looks so sharp. He makes another perfectly timed run to meet Rogers’ pass and reverse a close-range shot that is superbly stopped by Mamardashvili.
64 min “Another really difficult watch,” says Kev McManus. “Been going to see Liverpool for 50 years now. I know time plays tricks with your memory but this season has been painful. It’s as bad as I can remember, right up there with the Hodgson and the end of Brendan Rogers. No plan, no vision, no passion. It sounds like we are sticking with manager but I’m not convinced and most of the people I speak to at the match feel the same.”
63 min Watkins goes over after a desperate challenge from the last man Konate. The referee waves play on and, though you can argue it was a foul, it certainly wasn’t clear and obvious.
62 min Gomez is booked for a late tackle on Buendia.
61 min Liverpool aren’t happy that Watkins escaped a second yellow card just before he put Villa ahead. I can see both sides!
59 min: Another chance for Watkins!
The game has exploded into life. Liverpool lose the ball in the centre circle and are sliced apart with two passes: Rogers to Buendia to Watkins, who runs through on goal and tries to lift the ball over the outrushing Mamardashvili. He makes a fine save, then the ball ricochets off Watkins’ head and bounces wide of goal.
Updated
This is a nightmare for Liverpool. Dominik Szoboszlai, their player of the season, slipped as he shaped to receive a throw-in deep in his own half. Rogers collected the loose ball and crossed early for Watkins, who steered an excellent first-time finish into the far corner.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool (Watkins 57)
Oh dear.
56 min: Ngumoha hits the post!
This kid is sensational. He shuffles infield from the left, away from Cash and McGinn, before whipping a curling shot that hits the inside of the far post. Gakpo puts the rebound over the bar, an open goal but a tough chance because the ball came at him so quickly.
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55 min Watkins is flagged offside before running through to score. He was booked for that in the first half, so in theory he could have been sent off, but on that occasion I’m pretty sure he didn’t hear the whistle.
55 min “Despite Liverpool’s continued mauveness, I do dig this away kit,” writes Ian Copestake. “All-a-tinkle with nostalgia for Terry Mac in his version and the all-conquering late 70s team.”
54 min: Goal given! It was a really accomplished header from Van Dijk, who judged the weight perfectly as he steered it back across Martinez.
VAR check Villa thought somebody was fouled off the ball, either Cash or Rogers, and the goal is being checked.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool (Van Dijk 52)
A textbook equaliser for Liverpool. Szoboszlai clips a delicious free-kick to the far post, where Van Dijk arrives unmarked and plants a superb header across Martinez.
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51 min “They are the same people who said that Marcellus Wallace threw Antoine Roccamora off a four-storey balcony because he gave Marcellus’ wife a foot rub,” says Niall Mullen. “They may be unreliable.”
50 min Ngumoha surges to the byline and does well to keep the ball in play with a sliding cross. A number of players switch off, thinking the ball has gone out of play, which allows Jones to have a shot that is blocked by Pau Torres. Gomez’s follow-up is off target.
49 min “I was quite impressed about the way Liverpool went about their business in the first half with some slick, incisive passing setting up half-chances,” writes Colum Fordham. “Ngumoha looked lively. Szoboszlai was getting into good positions and shot well from distance. But the nth example of abysmal defending, with no one following Rogers, led to the inevitable goal.
“I really think Slot is in the last-chance saloon. No imagination. Perhaps Salah could provide a final flash of inspiration to turn things around. Gakpo looks bereft of ideas or maybe support.
“Hats off to a gutsy Aston Villa.”
48 min A quiet start to the second half.
47 min “What ingredient was Slot missing this season, that he will have after the summer?” asks Drew. “A defensive midfielder? A fast winger? A non-injured right back? A snazzy away kit? It doesn’t seem like individual pieces that Liverpool are missing, it seems like an identity, a collective plan.
“Call it style, tactics, philosophy, mindset, I don’t know, but Liverpool are a team nobody would be scared of playing, home or away, and that has to rest with the coaching; I don’t think the remedy is more of the same coaching. The XI who will line up next week v Brentford seem no further along as a team than the XI that lost to Palace in the Charity Shield. Twenty defeats are on the table. Twenty!”
Liverpool have had terrible luck with injuries this season; even tonight they are missing four or five of Slot’s best XI. Surely that counts for something?
46 min Villa begin the second half. They’ve brought on Ross Barkley for Victor Lindelof at the break.
“When Szoboszlai hits a ball, it stays hit, as they say,” begins Matt Dony. “He’s got such tremendous technique, and although it’s a different sort of action to Trent, it’s still tremendously aesthetically pleasing. As rough as this season has been, just imagine how much worse it would have been without Dom’s efforts. Seems like a good bloke, too. And frustratingly handsome. What a man. Build the team around him next season. He makes things tick.”
All true, but I want to go back to your first sentence. Who are they? And how do we know we can trust them? Because they do say an awful lot and I’m starting to wonder.
Half-time reading
Popcorn, please!
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 Liverpool
Morgan Rogers’ fine goal separates the teams at Villa Park. It was an even first half overall, but Villa have the advantage. If it stays like this, they will qualify for the Champions League.
45+3 min Watkins is booked for playing on, and putting the ball in the net, after being given offside.
45 min Three minutes of added time.
44 min On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher is wondering whether Mamardashvili might have done better with the goal. He was very close to getting a touch, and it might be that he saw the ball late as it came around a Liverpool defender.
Villa won a corner on the left, taken by Digne. He clipped the ball a long way back to McGinn, who returned the ball to Digne on the left. While they were doing that dance, Rogers sneaked into space on the left side of the area. Digne found him with a simple pass infield, and Rogers opened his body to shape a curler into the far corner. Lovely stuff.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Liverpool (Rogers 42)
Villa take the lead through a brilliant goal from Morgan Rogers!
41 min Rogers runs down the right and hits a terrific first-time cross that bounces across the six-yard box. Gomez clears at the far post.
38 min Cash is booked for a late tackle on Kerkez.
37 min Liverpool continue to dominate. Villa have been unable to feed Watkins on the break, with Rogers looking a bit subdued.
33 min Szoboszlai clips a cross into a very crowded six-yard box. It’s met ahead of the near post by Mac Allister, who heads over and punches the air in frustration.
31 min Szoboszlai moves to within 30 yards of goal and cuts across a spectacular shot that is pushed away by Martinez as he dives to his left. Lovely effort and a pretty good save.
30 min Villa were the better team early on but Liverpool are on top now.
27 min: Disallowed goal for Liverpool
Gravenberch’s curler from 20 yards bounces awkwardly in front of Martinez, who spills it straight to the feet of Gakpo. He puts it away but is then flagged offside.
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25 min Ngumoha zips infield from the left and tries a curler from 25 yards. Over the bar.
23 min A bit of a scramble in the Villa area ends with Gakpo going down under a challenge from Konsa. Liverpool appeal for a penalty; Chris Kavanagh says no.
22 min “Little though I care about what happens with Liverpool, I’m with you on Slot deserving another year before being judged,” says Geoff Wignall. “Aside from all the injuries and the emotional fallout from Diogo Jota’s death, that sad event also destroyed their pre-season pretty much entirely - at a time of trying to integrate several new players.
“I don’t think their recruitment was necessarily the greatest, but without a pre-season and with all the subsequent disruptions from injuries it’s a bit harsh for anyone to demand total cohesion and consistency.”
20 min Gomez, who has never scored in senior football, shoots over from distance.
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18 min Van Dijk clips a fine pass over the defence towards Ngumoha. His first touch takes the ball square rather than towards goal, which allows Cash to clear the danger.
14 min I forgot to say that Watkins is back on and looks okay. In fact he’s been the most dangerous attacker so far, causing Liverpool a lot of problems with his pace and movement.
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13 min Tielemans takes the free-kick short to Cash, whose stinging shot is blocked by a Liverpool defender.
11 min Mamardashvili runs outside his area to intercept a long pass, only to fluff his clearance straight to Rogers. There’s no chance of a shot so Rogers sweeps a cross that is half cleared by Konate. Villa regain possession and Buendia is fouled just outside the area on the left by Gomez.
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10 min Watkins is walking to the touchline holding either his side or his back. It looks like he wants to continue.
9 min This is a big concern for Villa ahead of the Europa League final against Freiburg. It looks like it might be a hip problem.
8 min Watkins makes an excellent channel run to receive a pass from Buendia on the left side of the area. He cuts back inside Van Dijk, beating him quite easily, but then slices a shot over the bar. I think Van Dijk leaned into Watkins, who has stayed down and looks in a fair bit of pain.
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6 min Kerkez combines well with Ngumoha and lifts a deep cross that is headed away by his fellow left-back Digne. Liverpool are monopolising possession; Villa look good on the break.
3 min Liverpool have started with Jones, rather than Szoboszlai, on the right of midfield.
2 min Rogers collects possession inside the Liverpool half and sets off on a diagonal run, covering 50 yards before playing the ball inside to Watkins on the edge of the area. Watkins’ smart shot on the turn is held to his right by Mamardashvili.
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2 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “A game that ends 5-4 is a nine-goal thriller. Think PSG v Bayern, East Fife v Forfar. A 6-3 might also qualify, depending on circumstances. England v Hungary. Southampton v Man United. A 7-2 is not a nine-goal thriller. I was at Tannadice a few years ago when Dundee United lost 9-0 to Celtic. Thrilling it was not.”
1 min Peep peep! Liverpool kick off from right to left as we watch.
The players have lined up for the pre-match formalities. It’s a lovely, sunkissed evening in Aston. Gotta love night matches that begin in daylight.
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“Right Rob, let’s get down to brass tacks – Slot, should he be shown the door or given another year?” asks Peadar de Burca. “On the evidence of, let’s say, the last ten games, you’d have to say that the Liverpool manager has been found wanting. That extra little bit of innovation or rough magic hasn’t been there. A lot of talent at the top end of the team and you get the feeling a good manager could have shaped those players into something sharper, as opposed to the butter knife attack we’ve mostly seen. So, give him the boot?
“Well, this is a Liverpool team in transition. I suspect the owners, no mugs, had this in mind back in July after Diogo Jota’s tragic death and saw this as a year to acquire some serious talent, let them bed in with the real aim being the 2026-27 season. You’d hope Jeremy Jacquet will be joined by one or two more defensively minded players and the team will have more balance. The team will have had time to become a team. Let’s not judge Slot now, but in eight months’ time when Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz and Ngumoha are able to read each other’s minds.
“Having said that, if they lose tonight, I’ll be effing and jeffing like the cranky, bald Irishman I am.”
I think he has more than enough credit in the bank to get another year, but I also know I’m in the minority.
Arne Slot’s pre-match thoughts
Today we are without nine players. The good news is that Florian and Mo are on the bench, but Alex [Isak] is out with a minor injury.
I have to compliment Mo on how hard he has worked to be back. It’s not always straightforward with the type of injury he had.
In other news, it’s the FA Cup final tomorrow!
Unai Emery’s pre-match thoughts
Good evening. The priority is the Premier League – our main objective for the season was to fight to be in the top five. It is our last home game of the season, against Liverpool: our focus is 100 per cent on this match.
We are so, so happy with our overall performance this season. But we are demanding and we have asked the players why [some recent performances have been below-par].
Victor Lindelof was playing in midfield for Benfica a decade ago. He is experienced, a responsible player and he is doing good work.
Liverpool have very good players in their starting XI. They have not been as consistent this season, but I have massive respect for them and for Arne Slot.
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The rare sound of boos rang out at Anfield after the final whistle on Saturday. Normally, that would be an extreme response to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, but context is everything. The visitors went into the game on the back of six straight league defeats, looking vulnerable and there for the taking. Not for the first time this season, though, Liverpool failed to add to a visiting opponent’s woes.
Manchester United earned their first away win of the season at Anfield in October after picking up just one point from their first three league trips. Nottingham Forest also struggled early in the campaign, losing three and drawing two of their first five away games, before claiming a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Liverpool in November. Burnley had lost eight of their 10 away league games when they visited Anfield in January yet they earned a 1-1 draw.
Perhaps the most egregious was in March when Tottenham were at their lowest ebb. Heading for what felt like an inevitable relegation after five straight league defeats, Spurs won what turned out to be Igor Tudor’s only Premier League point with a late Richarlison goal securing a 1-1 draw.
“Aston Villa have only won one of their last 16 league games against Liverpool, which was that amazing 7-2 in 2020 (with goals from john mcginn, ollie watkins, jack grealish and ross barkley),” says andrew goudie. “i’m sure i’m not alone in expecting another nine-goal thriller tonight.”
Does a 7-2 count as a nine-goal thriller? Stricly speaking there were nine goals, and it was thrilling, but I feel like the phrase “xx-goal thriller” usually refers to a close game.
Arne Slot has said he has “every reason to believe” he will remain Liverpool’s head coach next season and get the opportunity to rectify the champions’ decline.
Slot’s position has been the subject of intense debate for much of a disappointing season, and Anfield’s frustrations rose to the surface last weekend when boos accompanied the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Internally, Liverpool’s position has not changed. There remains support for the coach who delivered the Premier League title in his debut season and recognition of the numerous problems he has encountered since.
Liverpool visit fifth-placed Aston Villa on Friday knowing victory would secure Champions League qualification. Asked whether he expected to be in charge next season, the Dutch coach replied: “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. First of all, I am contracted to this club 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 – then this has definitely not been a great season and 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.”
Team news: Salah on the bench
Mo Salah, whose last appearance was against Crystal Palace three weeks ago, is on the Liverpool bench. They make one change to the starting XI: Joe Gomez replaces Jeremie Frimpong.
Villa bring in Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Emi Buendia for Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley. No sign of Unai Emery resting players ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Lindelof, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Barkley, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
Liverpool (4-1-4-1) Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Jones, Mac Allister, Ngumoha; Gakpo.
Subs: Woodman, Wirtz, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, McConnell, Ndiaye, Wright.
Referee Chris Kavanagh.
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How many English clubs can you get in a Champions League? The answer seems to be “as many as possible”, Friday night’s contest at Villa Park crucial in deciding whether, next season, it’s five or six. Liverpool are almost there, but greater intrigue surrounds Villa who, if they finish fifth and win the Europa League, will secure an additional spot for one of Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford, two of whom harbour hopes of overtaking them – and imagine what any of three might do should their talent ID be fortified with Champions League money.
This gives Unai Emery a dilemma: does he go for a win to take Villa over the top, hoping his team find a groove that sustains them through Wednesday’s final? Or does he keep his big hitters fresh for the opportunity of a generation – of several generations – knowing that, if Villa lose, they’ve another chance to resolve things next weekend … away to Manchester City?
Preamble
How do you do? Welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Aston Villa v Liverpool at Villa Park. In recent weeks, these two have looked nailed-on to qualify for next season’s Champions League. That’s still the likeliest outcome, but it’s far from a done deal and there is a credible scenario in which one of them misses out.
It involves Villa losing next week’s Europa League to Freiburg and in-form Bournemouth (or possibly Brighton) leapfrogging either Villa or Liverpool to finish in the top five. Improbable, sure, but not inconceivable, which means there’s plenty riding on tonight – even more so given the noise and heat surrounding Arne Slot.
A win for either team will guarantee Champions League qualification. A defeat – particularly for Villa, whose last Premier League game of the season is at the Etihad – would create an unwelcome complication.
Kick off 8pm.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 36 | 42 | 79 |
| 2 | Man City | 36 | 43 | 77 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 36 | 15 | 65 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 36 | 12 | 59 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 36 | 4 | 59 |
| 6 | AFC Bournemouth | 36 | 4 | 55 |
| 7 | Brighton | 36 | 10 | 53 |
| 8 | Brentford | 36 | 3 | 51 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 36 | 6 | 49 |
| 10 | Everton | 36 | 0 | 49 |
| 11 | Fulham | 36 | -6 | 48 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 36 | -9 | 48 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 36 | -2 | 46 |
| 14 | Leeds | 36 | -5 | 44 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 36 | -9 | 44 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 36 | -2 | 43 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 36 | -9 | 38 |
| 18 | West Ham | 36 | -20 | 36 |
| 19 | Burnley | 36 | -36 | 21 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 36 | -41 | 18 |
