Premier League 2025-2026: Aston Villa-Liverpool, the likely lineups

The English top league kicks off the penultimate day with a high-stakes challenge that is definitely relevant to qualification for the next Champions League: at 9 p.m. Italian time, 8 p.m. local time, Aston Villa and Liverpool in fact meet at Villa Park in a match that would guarantee entry into the top five (the Premier League will carry at least five teams into the League Phase 2026-2027) to the winning side, with one day to go before the conclusion of the tournament.

Aston Villa is actually in the race to enter the Champions League through the Europa League as well, being finalists against Freiburg: the unpredictability of any European final, however, leads Unai Emery’s men not to underestimate the need to finish among the top five anyway, and in this sense the challenge with Liverpool can be decisive: however, the negative trend in the league in the last period must be reversed, as the Villans have collected just four points in their last four matches.

As for Liverpool, on the other hand, there is little reckoning to be done: the Arne Slot-coached team has no alternative route to the Champions League and needs to avoid a drop-off at Villa Park, as sixth-ranked Bournemouth is four points away (although the Cherries need a feat against Manchester City to keep their hopes of fifth place alive). For the Reds, too, the moment is not the best: the latest results are the 3-2 loss at home to Manchester United and the 1-1 draw at Anfield against Chelsea.

Probable lineups

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; Sancho, Barkley, Rogers; Abraham. All. Emery.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Jones, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Isak. All. Slot.