Reds’ Champions League hopes hurt by 4-2 defeat
Aston Villa’s John McGinn ‘excited’ by European final
Arne Slot conceded defeat at Aston Villa could prove “damaging” for Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and accepted their supporters will question whether he can make the club title contenders again.
Liverpool slumped to a 4-2 defeat at Villa, for whom victory was sufficient to cement their spot in Europe’s premier competition next season. Slot’s side may need to win their final game of the season, at home to Brentford next Sunday, to guarantee a place in the Champions League. Villa, meanwhile, could celebrate qualification before the Europa League final in Istanbul, a chance to win their first major European trophy since 1982.
“It’s damaging because we needed either a win or maybe, maybe, maybe two draws would have been enough as well,” Slot said. “But now we know one thing for sure – we need a win next week if we have to do it ourselves. The other teams of course need to pick up points as well for us to need a win. That’s really damaging that we were not able to get a result, let alone a win here today. There were parts in the game where I felt a result could have gone our way but I think people are mainly focused on the period after the 2-1 where we couldn’t find any momentum any more and we conceded two other goals.”
Slot acknowledged Liverpool must improve defensively – they have conceded a league-high 20 goals from set pieces this season, coming unstuck twice from corners at Villa Park. Asked if there is sufficient for supporters to feel energised about with regards to next season after a 12th defeat of the league season, Slot said: “I can understand that, at this moment in time, [the fans] don’t have a lot of confidence or a lot of feeling that things can be much better next season but I think then they are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do.”
Villa’s captain, John McGinn, who made it 4-1 with a wonderful effort from the edge of the box, said securing Champions League qualification through the Premier League provides the perfect platform for next week’s final against Bundesliga side Freiburg.
“It allows us to be excited and enjoy Wednesday properly,” McGinn said. “It’ll be the pinnacle of my Aston Villa career. Hopefully I’ll get my hands on that trophy. We need to play the game, not the occasion.”
Ollie Watkins scored twice after Morgan Rogers’ opener, the England striker taking his tally to 20 goals for the season for club and country. “I wish he was Scottish,” McGinn said. “He was obviously disappointed in March [after being left out of the England squad] but if it gave him a kick up the backside he’s certainly responded in the best way. We’re so fortunate to have him, what he’s done for this club the past few seasons has been incredible. I think he may have just snuck his way on to that plane [to the World Cup]. Hopefully he can carry that into next week.”
