Liverpool face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Friday in a crucial match between fourth and fifth place.
Villa missed the chance to leapfrog Liverpool into fourth on Sunday after drawing away from home against Burnley.
With the teams level on 59 points and currently joining each other in next season’s Champions League, Friday’s match gives both the chance to secure their place in the top five.
Give us your predictions for Liverpool’s crucial trip to Villa Park this Friday
Will the Reds finally secure Champions League qualification?
Villa could, of course, qualify via a different route, as they contest the Europa League final just five days after the clash with Liverpool.
And with Friday night being their final home game of the season – and the last chance for the fans to give their team a send-off – manager Unai Emery says he is really looking forward to facing the Reds.
Emery excited for Liverpool challenge
For Liverpool, there is a feeling that Villa having such a big game right around the corner could be beneficial for them on Friday. Perhaps Emery will prioritise the final and send out a weakened team.
However, the Spaniard may also choose to keep his best players in rhythm for the clash with Freiburg, and riding on a raucous Villa Park atmosphere, that may make things tough for Arne Slot’s team.
Emery is certainly looking forward to the meeting anyway, admitting that he can’t wait to see the fans at Villa Park.
“Enjoy the moment with our supporters. I am so motivated, so excited for the match on Friday against Liverpool,” he told VillaTV after Sunday’s draw with Burnley.
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“We are going to test against them as well in Villa Park, which team is – in this moment – better than the other in the table.
“We have the same points. Of course, it’s Liverpool and it’s going to be very difficult, and it’s a huge challenge, and then prepare the final against Freiburg in 10 days.”
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 3 |  Manchester UnitedManchester United | 36 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 63 | 48 | 15 | 65 |
| 4 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 60 | 48 | 12 | 59 |
| 5 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 50 | 46 | 4 | 59 |
“Every supporter of Aston Villa and follower of Aston Villa should be so proud of everything we are doing,” Emery added.
“And we should be so excited and motivated to try to face the last days, the last weeks, the last matches of the season.”
Liverpool cannot afford to drop yet more points in the run-in as Bournemouth and Brighton close in on them. Three points at Villa Park would seal their place in the top four of the division, and with the fixtures piling up for Emery’s team, that has to be the aim.
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