Superb second half display sees Unai Emery’s team past the Reds.
This was precisely the Istanbul send-off Unai Emery and Villa planned.
A rousing 4-2 win over Liverpool saw them book their place in next season’s Champions League with a Premier League match to spare and ensure they head into next Wednesday’s Europa League final in high spirits.
Villa will travel to Turkey to face Freiburg aiming to complete a superb double, with their primary aim for the season already in the bag.
After one point from just three league matches had raised fears of being overhauled in the top-five race, Emery was rewarded for selecting his strongest possible team here.
Morgan Rogers opened the scoring, with Ollie Watkins bagging a brace after Virgil van Dijk had brought the visitors level.
John McGinn then put the gloss on a superb second half display by curling an effort into the top corner, with van Dijk netting his second of the match in stoppage time to make the scoreline slightly more respectable.
This was just Emery’s second career win over Liverpool and his first since beating them in the Europa League final with Sevilla 10 years ago, ending a run of 13 winless matches against his bogey side. There was no better time to achieve it.
Villa began brightly yet Emery’s heart may have been in his mouth when Watkins required treatment for an early injury.
The striker, who had already struck an early shot too close to keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, sent another over the bar after cutting inside van Dijk before immediately clutching at his side.
To Villa’s relief he was able to continue after treatment and involved in the next chance, his harrying forcing a heavy touch from Mamardashvili as he came to meet a long ball. Rogers beat the keeper to the ball but was forced wide and van Dijk was in the right place to prevent Watkins getting on the end of the cross and heading into an empty net.
Liverpool saw long distance efforts from Joe Gomez and Rio Ngumoha fly off target before Emi Martinez in the Villa goal received a let-off. The keeper spilled Ryan Gravenberch’s shot to give Cody Gakpo a simple finish and looked on with relief as the flag was instantly and correctly raised.
Martinez did rather better soon after, pushing a swerving Dominik Szoboszlai effort from a full 30 yards out wide.
Villa had lost their early fizz but three minutes before the break thanks to a Rogers finish which matched the excellence of their corner routine.
Lucas Digne feigned to deliver the ball into the box, instead played short to McGinn and then picked out Rogers, standing unmarked just inside the area. The latter lifted a curling effort over the head of Szoboszlai and into the top corner.
Villa didn’t want half-time to arrive and within seven minutes of the restart they had been pegged level, as Van Dijk ran free to head home Szoboszlai’s free-kick.
Initially it was not clear what referee Chris Kavanagh had awarded as both sides appealed, Villa believing there had been a foul on Matty Cash.
Video assistant Neil Davies eventually checked for offside, found none and the goal stood.
A match which had been a little subdued was suddenly alive.
Watkins had the ball in the net but was guilty of having strayed offside. Seconds later, Ngumoha sent a curling effort off the base of the post.
It was a mistake which then saw Villa back in front. Szoboszlai slipped, allowing Rogers to nip in and tee-up Watkins for a simple finish.
The striker nearly made it a quick double but was denied one-on-one by Marmardashvili, the rebound hitting his head and flying wide.
Villa were buzzing now though. Buendia almost increased the lead in spectacular with a curling shot which hit the post and bar before being cleared behind.
From the corner, delayed by some rather unseemly theatrics and a VAR check when Mac Allister went down claiming he had been struck by Konsa, the goal arrived.
A headed clearance only found Tielemans and when Marmardashvili could not hold his volley, Watkins was their to force home after the keeper had kept out Torres’ initial follow-up.
McGinn curled a sublime effort into the top corner to put the result beyond doubt and then exchanged a warm embrace with Emery before van Dijk headed in again after Villa switched off a little too early.
It mattered not. Onward, to Istanbul.
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Lindelof (Barkley HT), Tielemans (Luiz 90), McGinn (Sancho 90), Rogers, Buendia (Maatsen 85), Watkins Subs not used: Garcia, Abraham, Bogarde, Bailey, Bizot (gk).
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez (Chiesa 66), Konate, Vin Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch (Wirtz 66), Szoboszlai, Jones, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, Gakpo (Salah 74) Subs not used: Robertson, Nyoni, McConnell, Ndiaye, Wright, Woodman (gk).
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