The draw with Liverpool brought Aston Villa closer to securing Champions League football.
Villa had to settle for a point in their 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Villa Park. Villa earned a draw after falling behind 3-1 at home thanks to Youri Tielemans’ goal and a brace from Jhon Duran.
The result means that Villa remain fourth in the Premier League table, five points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. This weekend, Villa will travel to Crystal Palace for their final game of the season.
Despite earning a point, Villa’s Champions League participation is not yet confirmed. Tottenham may still overtake them in the final week of the season.
Spurs will face Manchester City on Tuesday night in a game that will give them an advantage over Spurs. Anything but a win for Tottenham would secure Villa’s fourth place and a spot in next season’s revamped Champions League.
The Ball in Tottenham’s Court?
If Tottenham wins against Manchester City, the race for the top four will go down to the last day of the season. Spurs’ win would put them two points behind Villa with only one game remaining.
While Villa travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, Tottenham are also on the road. Ange Postecoglou’s team will travel to South Yorkshire to face Sheffield United, who have already been relegated to the Championship.
Villa’s draw against Palace would almost certainly secure fourth place, thanks to their superior goal difference. In this scenario, Spurs would need to make up the eight-goal difference with Villa in their final two games against Manchester City and Sheffield United.
Because Villa drew with Liverpool, there’s only way Tottenham can qualify for the Champions League. They have to win their final two games and hope Villa loses to Palace.
If that does not happen, Villa are likely to finish fourth, and Spurs will have to settle for Europa League football next season.
