In other news, it’s the FA Cup final tomorrow!

Unai Emery’s pre-match thoughts

Good evening. The priority is the Premier League – our main objective for the season was to fight to be in the top five. It is our last home game of the season, against Liverpool: our focus is 100 per cent on this match.

We are so, so happy with our overall performance this season. But we are demanding and we have asked the players why [some recent performances have been below-par].

Victor Lindelof was playing in midfield for Benfica a decade ago. He is experienced, a responsible player and he is doing good work.

Liverpool have very good players in their starting XI. They have not been as consistent this season, but I have massive respect for them and for Arne Slot.

The rare sound of boos rang out at Anfield after the final whistle on Saturday. Normally, that would be an extreme response to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, but context is everything. The visitors went into the game on the back of six straight league defeats, looking vulnerable and there for the taking. Not for the first time this season, though, Liverpool failed to add to a visiting opponent’s woes.

Manchester United earned their first away win of the season at Anfield in October after picking up just one point from their first three league trips. Nottingham Forest also struggled early in the campaign, losing three and drawing two of their first five away games, before claiming a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Liverpool in November. Burnley had lost eight of their 10 away league games when they visited Anfield in January yet they earned a 1-1 draw.

Perhaps the most egregious was in March when Tottenham were at their lowest ebb. Heading for what felt like an inevitable relegation after five straight league defeats, Spurs won what turned out to be Igor Tudor’s only Premier League point with a late Richarlison goal securing a 1-1 draw.

“Aston Villa have only won one of their last 16 league games against Liverpool, which was that amazing 7-2 in 2020 (with goals from john mcginn, ollie watkins, jack grealish and ross barkley),” says andrew goudie. “i’m sure i’m not alone in expecting another nine-goal thriller tonight.”

Does a 7-2 count as a nine-goal thriller? Stricly speaking there were nine goals, and it was thrilling, but I feel like the phrase “xx-goal thriller” usually refers to a close game.

Arne Slot has said he has “every reason to believe” he will remain Liverpool’s head coach next season and get the opportunity to rectify the champions’ decline.

Slot’s position has been the subject of intense debate for much of a disappointing season, and Anfield’s frustrations rose to the surface last weekend when boos accompanied the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Internally, Liverpool’s position has not changed. There remains support for the coach who delivered the Premier League title in his debut season and recognition of the numerous problems he has encountered since.

Liverpool visit fifth-placed Aston Villa on Friday knowing victory would secure Champions League qualification. Asked whether he expected to be in charge next season, the Dutch coach replied: “I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season. First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.

“But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – then this has definitely not been a great season and it is also normal that criticism comes. We have all had our share, and with ‘all’ I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.”

How many English clubs can you get in a Champions League? The answer seems to be “as many as possible”, Friday night’s contest at Villa Park crucial in deciding whether, next season, it’s five or six. Liverpool are almost there, but greater intrigue surrounds Villa who, if they finish fifth and win the Europa League, will secure an additional spot for one of Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford, two of whom harbour hopes of overtaking them – and imagine what any of three might do should their talent ID be fortified with Champions League money.

This gives Unai Emery a dilemma: does he go for a win to take Villa over the top, hoping his team find a groove that sustains them through Wednesday’s final? Or does he keep his big hitters fresh for the opportunity of a generation – of several generations – knowing that, if Villa lose, they’ve another chance to resolve things next weekend … away to Manchester City?