'We'll have City top': McGinn expects Spurs to slip to seal Villa's top four spot | first division

Aston Villa captain John McGinn joked that he and his team-mates would don Manchester City shirts on Tuesday in the hope that Pep Guardiola's team will help them clinch a Champions League spot by beating Tottenham . Anything short of a Spurs victory against the champions would guarantee Villa fourth place and a return to Europe's top competition for the first time since 1982-83.

Villa took a significant step towards sealing a Champions League place after substitute Jhon Durán's late heroics secured a draw against Liverpool in Jürgen Klopp's last away game. Liverpool took the lead in 62 seconds thanks to an own goal from Emiliano Martínez and went ahead 3-1 after 48 minutes following goals from Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah. But Durán, who had scored one league goal since September, scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation.

If Spurs beat City, the race for the top four will come to the final day, when Villa travel to Crystal Palace and Tottenham visit bottom-placed Sheffield United. “There are some of us who have never been close to the Champions League in our lives,” McGinn said.

“The coach (Unai Emery) has a no-excuse mentality. People have discarded us and we have gone unnoticed. We'll have our Manchester City shirts on (on Tuesday). Big Jhon is a little crazy sometimes, it's a nightmare to play against him. It was a brilliant effort towards the end. We were a little lucky. “It’s been a tough few weeks with the guys coming back and playing through the pain barrier.”

Klopp blew kisses and took off his cap in front of the adoring fans Liverpool fans after the final whistle of a frenetic match. “I enjoyed it, as always,” he said, about the moment he shared with the fans full-time.

“I still don't feel like it's the last time or whatever. Obviously I'm more professional than I thought because I was completely into the game. I didn't think for a second that it would be my last game away from home. I didn't have any movies (in my head). I was completely into the game. I really appreciate what these boys and girls have been doing. The visiting fans, as always, were absolutely crazy.

Scotland captain Andy Robertson missed the match as a precaution and will return to training on Tuesday. “I don't feel frustrated today,” Klopp said. “Maybe I should, but I just don't. We have all seen these types of games before in which one team plays absolutely everything and another is fixed in the position it is in. Historically, Emery teams are sensationally well organized.”