(Credit: Imago)

Jacob Raw

Sat 16 May 2026 7:10, UK

Jamie Redknapp has suggested that Aston Villa‘s set-piece coach should win his own individual award after the Villans’ 4-2 win against Liverpool this Friday.

Villa battered Arne Slot’s side 4-2 at Villa Park, in what was the first time that the Reds conceded four goals in a league game since the 2022-23 season.

Unai Emery‘s side confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League, which will be music to the ears of supporters and NSWE, who need the UEFA revenue to ease financial concerns.

One of the highlights of the game was when Morgan Rogers curled in the opener for his 10th Premier League goal of the season, which came from a well-worked dead-ball scenario.

MacPhee is Aston Villa’s set-piece coach and a large reason for the Villans’ success this season, and is finally receiving deserved credit, with Redknapp impressed.

Jamie Redknapp and Lee Hendrie impressed with Austin MacPhee

Ollie Watkins’ second goal of the contest also came from a corner kick routine, as MacPhee was seen delighted with his players in front of the cameras.

Villa have now scored 17 set-piece goals this season, and rank fifth highest in the Premier League for this stat.

Villa have created 14.0 xG from set plays, overperforming by three goals with their tally of 17.

Of those 17 goals, 12 have come from corners, but they also conceded two set-pieces to Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk.

While speaking live on Sky Sports, Lee Hendrie and Redknapp were in discussion, and both gave credit to Villa’s set-piece coach.

“He [MacPhee works on these situations, and that’s why Villa are so successful at these situations. The movement here, Youri Tielemans in the box, Lucas Digne on the ball, just watch Rogers take that movement, even that little bit of movement from Emi Buendia.”

Redknapp: “Is there ever a more set-piece man of the year, set-piece coach of the year. It just shows you the detail you have to go through. It’s quite ominous when you see him come out [of the technical box], but it’s absolutely brilliant.”

They jokingly asked if he’s also on defensive corners after van Dijk netted two from dead-ball situations.

Villa made use of the four corners they have, dispatching two of them, boasting a 50 per cent goal conversion rate on the night, as credit for MacPhee is overdue and deserved.

MacPhee has helped edge Watkins closer to Premier League history

Watkins’ second could have fallen to anyone after multiple attempts from Villa players were kept out after the corner.

However, the striker was on the spot to tap home, bringing his tally in the Premier League against Liverpool to eight.

He is now joint-second for scoring the most goals against the Reds in Premier League history, with only Andy Cole ahead of him with 11.

Watkins said he had a fire in his belly after the game, stating after the game that he wanted to prove people wrong after poor performances earlier in the season.