Following an emphatic 4-2 triumph over Liverpool on Friday night, Aston Villa has clinched a place in the Champions League. The victory propelled Unai Emery’s squad to 62 points, two clear of Liverpool with just one fixture remaining.
Ollie Watkins netted twice, and John McGinn added a stunning late strike as Villa completely outplayed the defending champions. The win guarantees Villa’s participation in the league phase of next season’s elite European competition.
They will join Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United as Premier League representatives in the Champions League. Villa now has an additional incentive: they face Freiburg in the Europa League final next week. If they win that match, they would have secured automatic qualification anyway, but their league result ensures their spot regardless.
Interestingly, if Villa had not already qualified through the league, a Europa League victory would have given them the berth, and the sixth-place Premier League team would have taken the extra spot. But as it stands, Villa’s stunning form under Emery has rewarded them with a top-four finish.