Aston Villa have secured Champions League football for the 2026/27 season after a commanding 4-2 victory over Liverpool at Villa Park. The win lifts Unai Emery’s side to 62 points, an unassailable seven-point lead over sixth-placed Bournemouth with one round remaining. Villa will join Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United in next season’s elite European competition.
Morgan Rogers broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, reacting quickest inside the penalty area after a scramble. Rogers collected Lucas Digne’s assist and fired home from close range, sending Villa Park into raptures.
Liverpool responded immediately after the break. Captain Virgil van Dijk powered a header past Emiliano Martinez from a Dominik Szoboszlai set-piece in the 52nd minute, restoring parity.
But the visitors’ momentum lasted barely five minutes. Ollie Watkins restored Villa’s lead in the 57th minute, rifling a low finish into the far corner after Rogers turned provider. Watkins then secured his brace in the 73rd minute, tapping home from close range after a goal-line scramble that required VAR confirmation.
Captain John McGinn put the gloss on the victory in the 89th minute, unleashing a stunning curling strike from outside the box into the top corner. Van Dijk nodded in a second consolation deep into stoppage time, but the result was already settled.
Slot admits Liverpool ‘Crumbled’
The defeat leaves Liverpool fifth on 59 points with one match remaining. They must beat Brentford at Anfield on the final day to secure Champions League qualification, though results elsewhere could still spare them.
“It is damaging,” Slot admitted. “We needed either a win or maybe two draws. But now we know we need a win next week. After the 2-1 we crumbled. We struggled to control their pace, intensity, and quality.”
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Liverpool were without Alisson, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike through injury. Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz were only fit enough for cameo roles from the bench.
