Prediction: Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 27/10

Bookmaker: Luckster

Villa Park sets the stage for a compelling Premier League clash on Friday evening, as Aston Villa welcome Liverpool with both sides locked in a battle for Champions League qualification.

Liverpool currently sit fourth, only ahead of fifth‑placed Villa on goal difference, while sixth‑placed Bournemouth remain four points behind with just two games left to play.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s recent dip in Premier League form can be attributed in part to their deep run in Europe, but that sacrifice has been rewarded. Unai Emery’s side secured their place in the Europa League final by defeating Nottingham Forest 4–1 on aggregate, ensuring they still have a route into next season’s Champions League regardless of league position.

Domestically, however, results have been less convincing. Villa have collected just a single point from their last three league matches, drawing 2–2 with Burnley after back‑to‑back defeats against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. Despite that run, they remain well placed in the standings, sitting fifth and four points clear of Bournemouth.

With two routes into the Champions League—through the league or by winning the Europa League final against Freiburg on May 20—Villa have significant motivation heading into this fixture. Securing qualification this weekend would remove any reliance on European success and allow them to focus fully on lifting silverware.

Historically, Villa have struggled against Liverpool, managing just one win in their last 16 Premier League encounters. That solitary triumph was the memorable 7–2 victory at Villa Park in October 2020, a result that remains a rare highlight in an otherwise difficult fixture for the Midlands side.

Team News

Villa will once again be without Boubacar Kamara, Alysson and Amadou Onana due to injury, but otherwise have a strong squad available. Emiliano Buendía is pushing for a return to the starting lineup after scoring twice in his last three appearances, having been used from the bench against Burnley.

Ollie Watkins remains the focal point in attack, contributing to 12 goals across his last 13 matches, including nine strikes. The England international is expected to spearhead the forward line once again.

Liverpool

Liverpool head into the clash following a 1–1 draw with Chelsea, in what was another underwhelming performance from the reigning champions. The Reds have struggled to maintain consistency throughout the season and appear far short of the level required to mount a serious title defence.

Their previous away fixture ended in disappointment as well, with a 3–2 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United on May 3. Despite those setbacks, Liverpool remain close to securing Champions League qualification and still have an outside chance of finishing third. To do so, however, they must win their remaining matches and rely on Manchester United dropping points, alongside a favourable swing in goal difference.

There is growing expectation that Arne Slot will retain his position despite the campaign’s struggles, and Liverpool will be eager to confirm a top‑five finish before concluding their season at home to Brentford—a fixture that could still present challenges.

Away performances remain a concern. Liverpool hold only the ninth‑best away record in the league, with eight defeats from 18 matches, a statistic that underlines the improvements required if they are to challenge for the title again next season.

Team News

Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are all ruled out. Ibrahima Konaté, Alisson Becker and Florian Wirtz will require late assessments, while Mohamed Salah has been cleared to feature briefly after recovering from injury.

Alexander Isak returned from injury as a substitute against Chelsea and could now be handed a starting role for this crucial encounter.

Conclusion

Both teams come into this match with uncertainties surrounding their recent form, making it difficult to predict with confidence. Given what is at stake and the tight margins between them in the table, a cautious and closely contested game is expected.

With three of their last six meetings ending in draws and neither side fully convincing in recent weeks, another low‑scoring stalemate appears the most likely outcome, leaving the race for Champions League qualification finely balanced heading into the final stretch.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 27/10

Bookmaker: Luckster