(Credit: Imago)

Cameron Smith

Wed 13 May 2026 10:00, UK

Aston Villa are looking to build momentum for the Europa League final on Friday, as they welcome Liverpool to Villa Park.

Unai Emery‘s side are winless in three Premier League outings, having played out a 2-2 draw with Burnley on Sunday, following losses against Fulham and Tottenham.

As a result, a spot in the top five is not quite as comfortable as imagined, with Liverpool recently leapfrogging the Villans, while Bournemouth are closing in.

With the Europa League final against Freiburg around the corner, Emery is presented with a difficult decision regarding his team selection.

And alongside securing their spot in the top five, momentum for the trip to Istanbul must be a target as Villa face the soon-to-be dethroned champions.

Form guide

It has been a strange run for Aston Villa, who have tasted victory in the league just once in the league since returning from the international break last month.

However, they have been relentless in Europe, with last week’s 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest being the perfect response to the 1-0 defeat suffered at the City Ground.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have endured a difficult term, with Arne Slot’s side sitting fourth just a year on from lifting the title.

The Reds played out a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, a week after falling to defeat against rivals Manchester United.

Aston Villa (last six games all competitions): DWLLLW

Liverpool (last six games all competitions): DLWWLW

Head-to-head

Historically, Friday’s visitors have held the upper hand against Aston Villa, winning over half of the 202 matches between the pair.

This record extends to the Premier League, with Villa winning just 13 times out of 61.

Aside from the years between 2016 and 2019, Friday’s fixture has been a mainstay on the Premier League calendar, with Liverpool dominating.

The Villans last beat Liverpool back in 2020, when Dean Smith’s side shocked the nation to win 7-2 at an empty Villa Park.

Earlier this season, the B6 outfit fell to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, and will aim to reverse this with the season coming to a close.

Team news and predicted lineups

With Villa’s recent run in mind, Emery faces some difficult selection decisions.

Douglas Luiz, Emi Buendia and Pau Torres could come in, with Victor Lindelof, Ross Barkley and Tyrone Mings making way.

Lindelof, in particular, has impressed in a deep midfield role over the past week, performing well against Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

But with Amadou Onana still a fitness doubt, Emery may choose to rest the Swede ahead of the upcoming final, giving Luiz the chance to start for Villa against Liverpool on Friday.

Buendia was excellent against Forest in Europe and could return, while Torres may replace the ageing Mings at centre-back.

Ian Maatsen is set to keep his place at left-back, with Lucas Digne potentially being saved for Istanbul.

Had a top-five finish been secured before Friday, Emery would have had greater freedom to rotate, but that is no longer the case.

Villa play on Friday, a day before Freiburg, giving them five full days between matches.

As a result, the Liverpool game could be viewed as a chance to build momentum before the final rather than simply something to get through unscathed.

For Liverpool, Slot remains without multiple key men, with Mohamed Salah a doubt alongside Alisson, while Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley remain out for the season.

Predicted Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Luiz, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins

Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Gakpo, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak

Liverpool player to watch: Dominik Szoboszlai

In a difficult year for the Reds, Dominik Szoboszlai has stood out as a key figure.

Operating across multiple roles, the Hungarian has often been the biggest attacking threat, even during his stint at right-back.

Scoring four free-kicks in the league, the versatile midfielder has netted the most by a Liverpool player in a single season – Villa will have to ensure that there are none within shooting range with the deadly right foot of the Liverpool man.

We say: Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool

While it would not be the result to confirm a top-five spot, a draw at Villa Park would mean that Emery’s side come out relatively unscathed, with the Europa League final around the corner.

Liverpool have been inconsistent, and are not the side that waltzed to the league title last term.

As a result, the Midlanders must take advantage of this on home soil, leaving them well placed to claim a Champions League spot.