May 15, 2026, 6:19 p.m. ET
Aston Villa is returning to the UEFA Champions League, with a 4-2 victory over Liverpool confirming the Birmingham club will have a place in the 2026-27 edition.
Winners of the competition in 1982 when it was named the European Cup, Villa last was in the top continental competition in 2024-25, falling in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Paris Saint-Germain. This season, the Villans are in the Europa League final, which will take place May 20 in Istanbul.
The focus for Unai Emery’s club now can be on that match against Freiburg, with an Ollie Watkins double helping Villa to a 4-2 victory over Liverpool that assures Villa will fall no lower than fifth in the Premier League table.
Will Liverpool qualify for the UFEA Champions League?
Despite a double from defender Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool was unable to earn a point and now has a nervous wait to see if it will finish in the top five places. The Reds close the season with a visit from Brentford next week and will be rooting against AFC Bournemouth, which sits sixth in the table with 55 points ahead of May 19’s match with Manchester City and a May 24 finale at Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool is on 59 points, meaning it could be out of its hands whether it joins Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League.
