Joe Gomez reflects on the 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa that could leave Liverpool with work to do on the final day of the season to qualify for the Champions League
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 15: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Joe Gomez of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 15, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Joe Gomez of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Premier League match at Aston Villa (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Joe Gomez admits Liverpool were their own worst enemies in Friday night's 4-2 loss to Aston Villa.
The Reds suffered their 12th Premier League defeat of the campaign as Unai Emery's side leapfrogged them into fourth to secure a place in next season's Champions League.
After Virgil van Dijk had cancelled out Morgan Rogers' first-half opener, Ollie Watkins struck twice before a stunning John McGinn effort made it 4-1 in the closing stages.
Captain Van Dijk headed home a second late on but it was nothing more than a consolation on a disappointing night for the champions.
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It leaves Arne Slot's side potentially needing a result at home to Brentford next Sunday in the final game of the season and Gomez opened up on his frustrations after starting the match at Villa Park on the right side of the back four.
"We cost ourselves a big opportunity today," the defender told LFCTV. "We know that. It sums up our year, with it being in our hands and errors that are avoidable at pivotal points in the game where we could have got momentum.
"At the end of the day, it’s still in our hands (qualifying for the Champions League), the goal remains the same. We’ve just got to do the job next week now.
"It felt that we had control. It’s just frustrating because it’s lapses in concentration. Something that’s highlighted, we know: they’re great at set-pieces. They’ve got a reputation for doing routines and doing things outside the box, and we knew that. We had to be focused.
"It’s fine margins in the Premier League and that adds to it [the frustration]. It is what it is now, we can’t sit here and feel sorry for ourselves, we just have to do the job.
"We know what we have to do next weekend and we have to beat Brentford at home."
Gomez added: "It’s a long week. Obviously we’ve got a lot of injuries but we’ve got to band together. We know we have to give the supporters something to support in how we play and how we approach the game.
"Hopefully we end the season on a positive note – that’s the goal. That goal doesn’t change from today and we know what we have to do."
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