Aston Villa win the Champions League battle and leave Liverpool’s season at breaking point
The only previous time Unai Emery had beaten Liverpool was in a Europa League final. As, a decade later, he ended a wait for a second, he set Aston Villa up perfectly to emulate his Sevilla side in their continental exploits. He may also end up consigning Liverpool to his favourite competition, the Europa League.
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Richard Jolly at Villa Park15 May 2026 22:22
Watkins on continued success versus Liverpool
Watkins continued: “Liverpool play a high line and don’t play offside so they’re disjointed at the back and feel like there’s a lot of space for me to run into. No disrespect to them, the centre backs are world class but I spot space and opportunities. I like to run in behind.
“Just before the goal, I was disappointed because I went offside, they play such a high line. I shouldn’t be offside in that position but to grab that goal a minute later, me and Morgan [Rogers] have a great connection.
“Buzzing Pau [Torres] missed that, I knew I wasn’t offside. It’s horrible when it goes to VAR you never know but you can’t ask for anything more as a striker with a little tap in there.”
Mike Jones16 May 2026 00:00
Watkins on qualifying for Champions League
Aston Villa’s star striker said: “An amazing achievement. What we have done this season after the start we had – a poor start where we hardly scored and didn’t win for six games – there was a lot of doubt and negativity around the club and he feeling in camp.
“We’ve turned it around with some big performances. Amazing to play in the Champions League, a lot of amazing teams, football that everyone watches and the competition that everyone is striving to play in.”
Mike Jones15 May 2026 23:50
“To compete in both competitions and being consistent is not easy, we had fantastic season in the Premier League. I am so proud,” said Villa manager Unai Emery
“We try to be demanding in both competitions and we are very serious preparing for games, knowing the difficulties. We started poor in the Premier League, the second part of the season, we lost lots at home but we did it.
“Before the match I was worried about the level we had to play at but I am so happy at how we did it.”
(AP)
Mike Jones15 May 2026 23:40
The Aston Villa boss told Sky Sports: “Fantastic, today the match was very important for us because the the priority was the Premier League.
“We faced Liverpool and tested ourselves. It was a tough match in the first half but the second half was fantastic. I am grateful for the supporters. Champions League, this is something amazing.”
Mike Jones15 May 2026 23:30
“It’s not about me it’s about us being disappointed with the result. I spoke yesterday on it and that’s enough,” said Slot on if he will be Liverpool manager next season.
“Our focus is on the Brentford game and making sure we earn the support of the fans by starting the game aggressive and well.
“The culmination of the fan support and a good performance will lead us to what we want to achieve and that is qualifying for the Champions League.”
(AP)
Mike Jones15 May 2026 23:20
Why has Liverpool’s away form been bad?
The manager attempted to answer that question by saying: “In general teams struggle more away from home but for a top team like us it’s far too many losses and dropped points. That hugely has to do with the way we concede is far too easy in general.
“We have chances but we’ve not been as clinical in fishing them this season as we were last season. It doesn’t help that [Alexander] Isak has hardly played for us or that Hugo [Ekitike] has been unavailable.
“It is what it is. Next week, Brentford is where our focus is.”
(Getty)
Mike Jones15 May 2026 23:10
The Liverpool boss explained: “After 2-1 it went away from us. Before that I think we started well in the first 10 minutes of the second half then we had control of the game without creating chances – but that is not the first time this season. At 1-1 we were close to going 2-1 and then conceding the goal at 2-1 the way we conceded the goal is something we haven’t had this season yet. We have conceded a lot of goals this season which you’d find hard to believe unless you live it and that’s what we did today. Villa were the better team after that and the game went away from us.
“It’s not about me or how frustrated I am it’s frustrating for everyone involved – players, staff and definitely fans. Frustrating for players who came back and in football you can slip [Dominik Szoboszlai], but it’s so unfortunate. That is something that’s probably part of our season. We know what to do next week.”
Mike Jones15 May 2026 23:00
Watkins is Liverpool’s nemesis
Ex-Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports: “He [Ollie Watkins] is Liverpool’s nemesis – they just can’t handle him.
“Nobody gives Virgil van Dijk more difficulties than Ollie Watkins, he’s an absolute menace to Liverpool.
“The fact that he’s the main man – and they’ve got such a good understanding, him and Morgan Rogers, they’re telepathic at times.”
Mike Jones15 May 2026 22:50
He has scored 14 goals in the Premier League this season (two in this game).
Nine of those goals from Watkins have come after the last March international break, where he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man squad.
Has he earned back his place on the plane to the World Cup?
Mike Jones15 May 2026 22:42