Aston Villa rip Liverpool apart to secure Champions League football

TL;DR

Aston Villa defeated Liverpool 4-2, securing Champions League qualification while leaving Liverpool needing a win against Brentford to secure their own spot. Watkins scored twice in the second half, highlighting Villa's dominance.

Key points

Aston Villa won 4-2 against Liverpool
Villa secured Champions League qualification
Watkins scored two goals in the match
Liverpool needs to beat Brentford for qualification

Aston VillaLiverpoolOllie Watkins

Aston Villa secured Champions League qualification at Liverpool's expense - with Arne Slot's side forced to wait a top-five finish after being "taken to the cleaners" with a 4-2 loss.

Watkins' second-half double capped off a performance for Unai Emery's side - who can go into Wednesday's Europa League final with a seat at Europe's top table already in the bag.

Liverpool capitulated in the second period, with Slot's side now facing the prospect of potentially needing to beat Brentford on the final day to secure Champions League football themselves.

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"Liverpool don't excel at anything," said Jamie Carragher after a limp display. "They look like a really, really average team.

"The only time Liverpool have looked a threat is through set pieces."

Villa showed they were better than Liverpool at that as well, when Morgan Rogers curled Villa in front from a slick short corner routine just before half-time. It came in a period when Slot's side were on top but failed to take their chances.

Liverpool did find a leveller after the break when Virgil van Dijk headed home Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick that survived a VAR check after Van Dijk and Matty Cash came together in the build-up