Key events
Jürgen Klopp should be on his best behavior tonight. If not, his reign at Anfield could come to a rather awkward end on Sunday: Klopp has been booked twice this season, against Burnley on February 10 and against Luton on November 5, and a third at Villa Park would earn him a automatic penalty on the touchline. for his last game.
The teams!
Aston Villa: Martínez, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Douglas Luiz, Bailey, McGinn, Diaby, Watkins.
Substitutes: Chambers, Lenglet, Zaniolo, Durán, Olsen, Kesler-Hayden, Iroegbunam, Munroe, Kellyman.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gómez, Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Díaz.
Substitutes: Konate, Szoboszlai, Núñez, Jones, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Bajcetic, Kelleher, Bradley.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Preamble
Normally, the end of a first division The season would mean a lot of permutations at the top and bottom of the table, and for the teams fighting for Europe. But the relegation battle is now over, both City and Arsenal must win their remaining games to have any chance of winning the title and the top four are sewing almost sewn.
If they win against Liverpool tonight, Aston Villa will earn a place in the top flight of European football for the first time in more than 40 years. The last time Villa played in the European Cup they lost in the quarterfinals to Juventus in 1983. as defending champions. Heady days, but it's been a while.
On paper, Liverpool I don't have much to play for. Win, lose or draw, third place is assured. But with the arrival of a new manager, many members of the Liverpool squad are playing for their future. Former Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has rejoined the club's ownership group 12 months after leaving Anfield, while former Benfica technical director Pedro Marques has been appointed director of football development. Both will work with Michael Edwards, Liverpool's executive director of football, and all three will be instrumental in revenue and expenditure. The thing is, especially with international selection for Euro 2024 on the line, no player can rest on their laurels.
Oh, and it's Jürgen Klopp's last away game as Liverpool manager. But you already knew it.
Kick off: 8 pm eastern time.
