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Aston Villa and Liverpool kick off the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures this week, with Champions League qualification on the line.
The two sides sit fourth and fifth respectively, level on points, with Liverpool ahead on goal difference. While catching Manchester United in third remains mathematically possible, both teams will be focused on securing a top-five finish with a game to spare.
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A draw could be enough for both sides, though confirmation may depend on other results, including Bournemouth’s clash with Manchester City.
Villa also have a second route into the Champions League, with this fixture coming five days before their Europa League final.
Unai Emery faces a selection dilemma after the 2-2 draw with Burnley left work to be done domestically. Rotation has backfired recently, although the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in Europe restored confidence.
Boubacar Kamara, Alysson and Amadou Onana are ruled out, while Harvey Elliott is ineligible against his parent club.
For Liverpool, Mohamed Salah could return after a hamstring injury, while Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz are expected to be available. Arne Slot is set to provide further updates, though Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain long-term absentees.
After the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend, Anfield voiced its disapproval, with Liverpool booed off the pitch by their supporters, increasing the pressure on Arne Slot.
Liverpool remain in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League, and a win over Aston Villa would all but secure it. However, Slot continues to face scrutiny after a season marked by inconsistency and underwhelming performances.
The Reds have dropped points against struggling sides including Wolves, Burnley, Tottenham and Chelsea, highlighting their lack of consistency.
Reports suggest the club’s hierarchy are prepared to give Slot another year, but sections of the fanbase have made their frustrations clear. He may avoid the sack, but significant improvement will be required to win back support and turn results around.
With Villa likely to rotate ahead of their European final, Liverpool may sense an opportunity and should have enough quality to edge a weakened opposition.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event in the United Kingdom. However, in the United States of America, fans can watch the game live on NBC. Those in Africa can view it live on SuperSport. The match will be broadcast on JioHotstar in India and Stan Sport in Australia.