Aston Villa booked their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League after producing a sensational 4-2 victory against Liverpool in one of the standout matches of the Premier League campaign. With just five days remaining before their upcoming Europa League final against Freiburg, the Birmingham club officially guaranteed a top-five finish and completed a remarkable domestic season.

The breakthrough arrived just before half-time when Morgan Rogers fired the hosts in front, sending Villa Park into celebration mode. Liverpool responded after the interval through captain Virgil van Dijk, who brought the visitors level and briefly shifted the momentum in favour of the Merseyside side.

However, the game turned dramatically moments later. A costly slip from Dominik Szoboszlai gifted Ollie Watkins the opportunity to restore Aston Villa’s advantage, and the England forward made no mistake. Watkins then struck again to complete his brace and put Unai Emery’s side firmly in control.

The highlight of the evening came courtesy of skipper John McGinn, whose stunning long-range effort sealed Villa’s fourth goal and capped a memorable performance under the lights at Villa Park.

Virgil van Dijk grabbed his second goal deep into stoppage time, but it proved little more than consolation for Liverpool, whose hopes of finishing strongly now depend heavily on the final-day clash against Brentford.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Aston Villa - Liverpool 4:2 (1:0)
Goals: Rogers M., 42 (1:0); van Dijk, 52 (1:1); Watkins, 57 (2:1); Watkins, 73 (3:1)

Aston Villa: Martinez E.; Lindelöf (Barkley, 46); Konsa; Digne; Torres Pau; Cash; McGinn J.; Tielemans; Watkins; Buendia; Rogers M.
Substitution: Barkley (from 46)
Bench: Bizot; Maatsen I.; Douglas Luiz; Bogarde L.; Andrés García; Bailey; Abraham T.; Sancho
Yellow Cards: Cash 39; Watkins 45; McGinn J. 66

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Gomez (Chiesa F., 66); van Dijk; Konate; Kerkez M.; Szoboszlai; Mac Allister A.; Jones Cur.; Gravenberch R. (Wirtz, 66); Ngumoha; Gakpo (Salah, 74)
Substitution: Wirtz (from 66); Chiesa F. (from 66); Salah (from 74)
Bench: Woodman; Robertson A.; Nyoni; McConnell J.
Yellow Cards: Gomez 62