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Aston Villa secure Champions League spot in win over Liverpool
They voted with their feet again. Just like Anfield had emptied out last Saturday before full-time againstChelsea, plenty inside the away end at Villa Park had seen enough. were out long before referee Chris Kavanagh putLiverpoolout of their misery.
Dominik Szoboszlai,Liverpool's player of the season, apologised to the remaining travelling supporters after his mistake. now there is only one game to go beforeLiverpoolcan put an end to a forgettable campaign.
Manager Arne Slot spoke before the game about having nine players missing. that is no excuse for yet another feeble performance from his team.
As Jamie Carragher said pre-match on Sky Sports: "They [Liverpool] are very poor in possession. very poor out of possession."
Slot saysLiverpoolonly need a little bit of transition this summer. that he has every reason to believe he will be the manager next season, but his side are a mess.
This4-2 defeat against Aston Villawas their 19th defeat of the season across all competitions. Their record away from home against the rest of the top nine is played eight, lost seven, drawn one.
"I can understand at this moment in time they [the fans] don't have confidence or a lot of feeling that things can be much better next season. I think they are underestimating what a transfer window can do, what a new start can do," Slot said after.
Regardless of the injury crisis,Liverpoolhave had a full week to prepare for each of their past three games againstManchester United,Chelseaand Villa. still delivered three poor performances.
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Arne Slot post-match interview - Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool
At Old Trafford. United gifted them a way back into the game whichLiverpoolstill lost and, againstChelsea, Slot's men failed to beat a side that had lost their previous six Premier League matches.
In Birmingham on Friday night, their only real threat all evening came from 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha. Credit to the teenager for being one of the rare sparks of joy this season butLiverpoolneeded senior players to step up.
In midfield. defence,Liverpoolhave been poor, conceding more than 50 goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign for the first time (52). Excluding penalties, they have conceded the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season (20).
"We've conceded far too many goals - but I think we've also scored not enough goals," Slot told Sky Sports. "We were fully in the game, fully able maybe to get a result. I agree that after it went 2-1 we crumbled."
"They're disjointed at the back and I feel like there's a lot of space for me to run into. I'm going to get chances against them," said Ollie Watkins. who took two of those chances during a chaotic second half.
With one point in the past three games forLiverpool, the chance is still there forBournemouthorBrightonto capitalise. take the last Champions League spot.
It is entirelyLiverpool's own doing that they could hostBrentfordat Anfield next weekend, where Mohamed Salah. Andy Robertson will bid farewell, with it all still to play for. Either way, it is hard to see how Slot wins back the fanbase from here.
"There are mitigating circumstances from before the season," former Reds midfielder Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports.
"You can't address problems when his best players aren't fit - but a lot of this is on him [Slot]. if they don't get Champions League football he is going to be under pressure and there will be question marks.
"They're an educated fanbase, they don't really turn on their managers -. you see it, you hear it, a lot of people are maybe going away from wanting him as the manager next year.
"I really struggle with that because when you've won the league the year before. decide you want to get rid of the manager the following year - that doesn't sit well with me. I think he deserves another year after winning the Premier League title. But I expect better next year."
BournemouthandBrightoncould still overtakeLiverpoolin the race for the Champions League, with both sides yet to play their penultimate games.
Brighton. who are six points behindLiverpooland level on goal difference, travel toLeedson Sunday (15:00 BST) whileBournemouth, who trailLiverpoolby four points, hostManchester Cityon Tuesday (20:00 BST)
A win for either of those sides would take the race for Champions League qualification into the final day of the campaign. whenLiverpoolhostBrentford,BrightonwelcomeManchester UnitedandBournemouthtravel toNottingham Forest.
Anything less than three points forBrightonatLeedswould see Fabian Hurzeler's side drop out of contention. while Andoni Iraola'sBournemouthneed at least a point againstManchester Cityto stay in the hunt.
And, if bothBournemouthandBrightonwin, thenLiverpoolwill head into the final day of the season one point ahead ofBournemouthand three points ahead ofBrighton.
But if bothBournemouthandBrightonlose their next games, thenLiverpoolwill secure Champions League football before the final game of the season.
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