Aston Villa will face Liverpool, with either team securing Champions League qualification through a win. BBC Sport delves into key themes surrounding this matchup.
Despite a shaky conclusion to the domestic season, Villa could conclude the 2025-26 campaign triumphantly with their first major European trophy in 44 years.
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Villa has earned just eight points from their last 27, dating back to a 2-0 defeat against Wolves on February 27, when they were sitting in third place. Only relegated Burnley and Chelsea have accumulated fewer points during that span.
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Villa’s Main Objective is European Success
A win in the Europa League final on Wednesday would secure a spot in next season’s Champions League and make Villa’s final league placement almost insignificant.
Villa will be considered favorites against German side Freiburg next week, and with Unai Emery at the helm, they have a manager skilled in this tournament. The Spaniard holds a record of four Europa League titles, although he has faced defeat in just one final as an English manager.
[BBC]
Although Friday’s Premier League match retains its importance, a victory would secure Villa’s place in the top five with a game still to play. They have not suffered a defeat in their final league match at Villa Park since their Premier League return in 2019 (W4, D2), including a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool two years ago.
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Liverpool Aim to Conclude Season Positively
Liverpool’s title defense has not progressed as hoped, entering this weekend 20 points behind league leaders Arsenal and considerably trailing by 24 points compared to last season’s standing, having suffered 11 losses.
For context, they only lost four times last season, two of which occurred in May after securing the title.
Eight of this season’s 11 defeats have been on the road, marking the most away losses for Liverpool in a season over the past 14 years. They have managed to secure just one point from seven away matches against teams currently ranked in the top nine of the Premier League, with Aston Villa being in fifth place.
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“We have dropped far too many points in away games,” acknowledged head coach Arne Slot, who faced criticism during last Saturday’s draw with Chelsea at Anfield. “However, I firmly believe that I will be the Liverpool manager next season.”
Ending the season without a significant trophy would mark only the third time in the last eight years for the Premier League champions, but a victory at Villa Park would guarantee Champions League participation for the next season.
Liverpool has a notable advantage in their encounters with Villa, having lost only once in their last 16 Premier League meetings, with 12 wins and three draws. The only defeat was a shocking 7-2 loss at Villa Park in October 2020, which remains Liverpool’s heaviest defeat in the Premier League.
Another loss this Friday, regardless of the score, could raise further doubts about Slot’s future.