How many points Liverpool needs to confirm Champions League place before Aston Villa game
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesChampions LeagueChampions League qualification is within touching distance for Liverpool as the Reds prepare to take on Aston Villa in their final away game of the 2025/26 campaignLiverpool faces Aston Villa in its penultimate game of the season(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool will travel to face Aston Villa this evening knowing victory would guarantee its place in next season’s Champions League without needing favors elsewhere.Arne Slot’s side failed to capitalize on an early goal from Ryan Gravenberch against Chelsea, missing the chance to all but seal a top-five finish with three points. The game began to slip away as Enzo Fernandez brought the Blues level before half-time, with the Reds offering little threat in the second half.As things stand, only Bournemouth and Brighton can still overtake both Liverpool and Aston Villa in the race for the Premier League’s top five with two matches remaining.
The Reds could miss up to nine players f or the Villa game with Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz both doubts.READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Bradley Barcola latest as Chelsea target Xabi AlonsoREAD MORE: Man Utd and Everton make transfer inquiries for ex-Liverpool star amid contract talksBournemouth sit four points behind Liverpool, while Brighton trail by six, meaning a win at Villa Park would put the Reds mathematically beyond both clubs’ reach.That result would move Liverpool onto 62 points — more than Bournemouth’s possible maximum of 61 and Brighton’s potential total of 59 — while leaving Villa stuck on 59 heading into the final day of the season.However despite Unai Emery's side picking up one point in its last three Premier League games, the Reds have not tasted victory at Villa Park since December 2024, when Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic all found the net.If Friday’s clash ends level, only Bournemouth would still have a chance of overtaking either Liverpool or Villa in the race for the top five. For that to happen, it would need victories over Manchester City and Nottingham Forest while Liverpool or Villa would also have to lose on the final day.Liverpool could secure its place in the Champions League with a win over Villa(Image: Kristian Skeie - UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)Although that scenario is still mathematically possible, a draw at Villa Park should effectively be enough for Liverpool.
There is also a route for sixth place to qualify for the Champions League, though that would depend on Villa finishing fifth and winning the Europa League final.Liverpool can still finish on a maximum of 65 points this season, although that would still represent its lowest Premier League tally since the 2015/16 campaign, when the Reds ended on 60 points.Speaking on the mood around the club and Liverpool's bid for European qualification ahead of the Villa game, Slot said: "We wanted to win [against Chelsea] because we knew if we won that game, we would have qualified for the Champions League. So we take that point and we go to Villa, which has been a very good team this season, and now we have to try to win over there."Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCChampions LeagueAston Villa FCBrightonAFC BournemouthPremier League