Aston Villa will have to repeat a feat they have managed just once in the last 13 years if they are to secure Champions League football at Villa Park on Monday night.
Unai Emery‘s side have crashed back down to Earth over the past couple of weeks, as their fairytale season has been derailed by three consecutive defeats.
Two of those came against Olympiacos, which saw Villa knocked out of the Europa Conference League at the semi-final stage, with a league defeat against Brighton between the two ties.
Now, full focus is on securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League to confirm a Champions League spot for next season.
The Villans need just one win from their final two games to achieve this historic feat and they will be hoping to do it in front of their home fans as they welcome Liverpool to the midlands.
Aston Villa must beat Liverpool at home in league for second time in 13 years
That is no easy task.
However, the fact Liverpool’s title dreams were ended with Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Fulham on Saturday may mean they are not at their best.
Jurgen Klopp’s side won the reverse fixture 3-0 at Anfield earlier in the season, but Emery will be confident that his players can get the job done at home despite recent history suggesting otherwise.
Villa have only beaten Liverpool once at home in the league in the last 13 years, with the emphatic 7-2 victory in October 2020 played in front of an empty stadium due to the Covid pandemic.
Prior to that, Villa’s last home triumph against the Reds came 13 years ago to the month, with a Stewart Downing goal securing a 1-0 win in May 2011.
Tired Villa won’t want Champions League qualification to go to the wire
If Villa are unsuccessful in their quest for three points at home to Liverpool then they will be nervously watching as Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Fortunately for Villa, City still have plenty to play for themselves as they seek yet another Premier League title so Spurs will be in for a huge test.
If Villa fail to beat Klopp’s side then Tottenham have to beat City to take the race for Champions League football to the final day of the season on Sunday.
Emery’s squad is suffering from the rigours of regular midweek football due to their European exploits and has had to manage a squad with mounting injuries and fatigue in the past month.
The Spanish coach will be desperate to get over the line on Monday, knowing that they face a trip to a Crystal Palace side in incredible form under Oliver Glasner on Sunday, who are unbeaten in their last six -winning five and drawing just once.
Tottenham, on the other hand, travel to already relegated Sheffield United and Villa would have to assume Ange Postecolglou’s side would win that one.
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