Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool result - Ollie Watkins nets twice as Unai Emery’s side secure top-five finish with dominant win over Champions League rivals

Ollie Watkins struck twice as Aston Villa secured a place in next season’s Champions League with a 4-2 victory over rivals Liverpool at Villa Park.

Morgan Rogers set the ball rolling as he curled home a delicious opener on 42 minutes after the hosts caught the Merseysiders out with a well-worked corner routine.

Virgil van Dijk headed home an equaliser following the interval, but Watkins restored Villa’s advantage on 57 minutes after Rogers capitalised upon a slip from Dominik Szoboszlai to feed his striker.

Watkins then added his second of the night from close range before John McGinn’s last-minute curler sealed the points to pile more pressure on Reds boss Arne Slot.

Van Dijk nodded in his second of the night in stoppage time, but it did little to dampen the buoyant mood inside Villa Park.

The result sees Villa climb to fourth spot and guarantees Unai Emery’s men a top-five finish. Liverpool are three points further back in fifth and still have work to do to confirm a return to Europe’s top-tier competition next season.

Villa will now switch their focus to the UEFA Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday night, prior to concluding their Premier League campaign at Manchester City.

The Emirates FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea will kick off at 15:00 UK time on Saturday, May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

The match will be live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Kick off is at 15:00 but pre-match coverage will get underway on TNT Sports and HBO Max at 09:00 UK time with a special Breakfast Show, which can also be broadcast live on talkSPORT for the first hour.

From 11:00 to 13:00, TNT Sports will then start building towards kick-off with appearances from legends and fans of the two clubs, before Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole dive into the tactical match-up.

Then, from 13:00 on TNT Sports 1, the match build-up begins with host Laura Woods joined by the likes of Gerrard, Cole and Joe Hart.

”We had to get over the line (and qualify for the Champions League)," he told Sky Sports.

"Obviously, the last few league performances haven’t been the best. You're up against a top side. I know Liverpool haven’t been in great form, but it’s a huge performance at home and a great statement of intent for Wednesday."

He added: ”We need to be (brimming with confidence). How can you not be? We‘ve just made this club a Champions League club again. It means we can be excited and enjoy the game on Wednesday, probably.

"We've got a chance to get a bit of silverware but the fact this club is in the Champions League next season is an unbelievable achievement again."

Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool.

Digne's 25-yard free kick clips the wall and flies off target.

The Liverpool captain pulls one back with a header from Szoboszlai's left-wing cross.

Eight minutes added.

McGinn and Tielemans off.

Sancho and Douglas Luiz on.

Wow! Take a bow, John McGinn.

The captain takes a pass from Watkins and arcs a lovely curler into the top corner.

It's been a season to forget for the champions and they still have work to do if they want to play UCL football next term.

Buendia off, Maatsen on.

Chiesa sees a volley from a tight angle blocked by the advancing Martinez after van Dijk had nodded down a ball from the left.

Villa would climb to fourth spot and seal a top-five finish. Liverpool would be three points further back in fifth and still have work to do to confirm a return to Europe’s top-tier competition next season.

The visitors continue to press but there are also gaps on the break for Villa to try and expose too.

An updated stat: Watkins has now been involved in 14 goals in his last 14 outings for Villa in all comps, netting 11 and assisting three.

Salah on for Gakpo.

Mamardashvili makes a double stop as Liverpool fail to deal with a right-wing corner, but he can't deny Watkins a tap-in.

Villa deserve that, they've been well on top in this second half.

The Villa defender got shirty with Mac Allister at a corner and the Argentine threw himself to the floor holding his face.

VAR studies it but decides there's nothing in it.

Buendia cuts into the area from the right and curls a magnificent shot against the crossbar.

It looked set for the top corner but somehow Liverpool survive - again.

Villa catch Liverpool out as they rush away from their own area, allowing Martinez to claim a free kick from the right and kick long.

Watkins takes it down brilliantly but his pass to set Rogers free lacks pace and Liverpool somehow avert the danger.