Key events
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.
“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.
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.
Andy Hunter
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.
Daniel Harris
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.
