Aston Villa booked a Champions League spot with a 4-2 victory over Liverpool at Villa Park, leaving Arne Slot’s team still unsure of a top-five Premier League finish. Ollie Watkins struck twice after half-time, while Unai Emery reached 600 career wins as Villa moved beyond Liverpool in a direct European battle.

Watkins again caused major problems for Liverpool and now has eight Premier League goals against the Reds, seven at Villa Park. Only Thierry Henry and Sergio Aguero have matched that home tally of seven against Liverpool, while no player has scored more home league goals versus the Reds.

Liverpool’s defensive issues deepened with this result. The team have now lost 19 matches in all competitions this season, their joint-second worst figure since 1962. Only the 1992-93 campaign brought more defeats with 20, while 2004-05 and 2009-10 also finished on 19 losses across competitions.

This Premier League season has also brought an unwanted first for Liverpool. The team have now conceded 52 league goals, the most they have ever allowed in a single Premier League campaign. Villa had fewer shots than Liverpool, 14 to 16, yet led the expected goals count by 1.91 to 1.55.

Key match statistics from Villa Park show how efficient Aston Villa were against Liverpool despite pressure for Champions League football in the Premier League.

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Emery’s own landmark came with added historical weight for Aston Villa. The 4-2 victory meant Emery became the first Villa manager to guide the club into the European Cup or Champions League in two separate seasons. This achievement followed their Europa League run, with a final against Freiburg still to come in Istanbul.

Liverpool’s hopes of early control vanished after a disallowed goal. Cody Gakpo finished from close range after Emiliano Martinez misjudged a situation, but the offside flag denied Liverpool. That scare sparked Villa, who had started brighter, into more precise attacking play and increased pressure down both flanks.

The breakthrough arrived from a rehearsed corner routine three minutes before half-time. Lucas Digne exchanged a short pass with John McGinn, then picked out Morgan Rogers on the edge of the area. Rogers took a touch and curled a low right-foot effort beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili into the far corner.

Liverpool responded strongly after the interval and levelled in the 52nd minute. Virgil van Dijk rose highest at the back post to nod in, and substitute Rio Ngumoha soon struck the base of the upright. That mini-spell suggested Liverpool might seize control, but the momentum quickly turned again.

Just five minutes after the equaliser, Dominik Szoboszlai slipped while receiving possession, handing the ball straight to Rogers. Rogers advanced into space and squared for Watkins, who finished calmly from close range. That goal restored Villa’s advantage and again exposed Liverpool’s vulnerability when building from midfield.

Villa then pushed for a third and almost found it when Emiliano Buendia hit the post. The hosts did not have to wait long, though. In the 73rd minute, Mamardashvili denied Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres in quick succession, but Watkins reacted fastest and steered the loose ball past the Liverpool goalkeeper.