Charles Jackson
Aston Villa can secure their first UEFA Champions League place in more than four decades on Monday, but they will have to overcome Liverpool – and their recent dip in form – to do so.
Villa are fourth and go into the match four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, who beat recently relegated Burnley on Saturday. They remain favorites to finish in the top four with a 95.2% chance, by Opta, with a series of suboptimal results, they hope. Liverpool, meanwhile, are officially out of the Premier League title race but could have the momentum to oust Jurgen Klopp on a high note as he approaches the end of his nearly decade-long spell at the Reds.
Here’s what you should know before tuning in.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Monday, May 13 | Time: 3pm ET
- Location: Villa Park – Birmingham, England
- TELEVISION: USA Network | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try it for free)
- Chances: Aston Villa +320; Draw +350; Liverpool-145
Plots
Aston Village: As the team has something to play for, the state of the game can be expected to favor Villa to some extent. Since destroying Arsenal’s title hopes in a 2-0 victory last month, Villa have won just one of their last six games, potentially a sign that they are running out of fuel after a long season. Their most recent defeats came in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they recorded a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Olympiacos of Greece.
There are no new injuries to report for Villa, so expect top talents like Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash to be in the lineup. Watkins in particular will be among those tasked with reversing recent trends in attack – Villa haven’t scored in their last two games, but the fact they have scored eight goals in total in their last six should inspire some confidence, especially as Liverpool have been porous on the back sometimes this season.
Liverpool: The Reds’ trophy haul this season will be limited to just the Carabao Cup, but as the end of Klopp’s time at Liverpool finally approaches, the team could be inspired enough to send him off in style. They may have just two wins in their last five matches, but last week’s 4-2 victory over Tottenham could be an example that a tired Liverpool may still have a little left for the final two games of their farewell tour. Klopp.
Klopp’s side have scored nine goals in their last five games and whatever combination of attacking talents he puts together on Monday, it’s a sign they can be on the scoresheet against a Villa team who have conceded 10 goals in their last five games. Liverpool are almost equally vulnerable at the back, having conceded eight goals during that period, reflecting their inconsistency in recent weeks.
Prediction
Considering the ups and downs of both teams, this game is difficult to predict, although the stakes are high for Villa and less so for Liverpool. Each side’s inconsistencies may cancel each other out, but their ability to score and concede in almost equal measure means there can be plenty of entertainment to be had in this game. Choice: Aston Villa 2, Liverpool 2
