Why Liverpool fans should all be rooting for Aston Villa to win this year's Europa League - opinion
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.
Despite being dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool fans can still take some interest in European football for the remainder of the season.The Reds are currently on course to qualify for next year’s edition of Europe’s premier competition, securing an eight-point buffer over sixth-placed Brighton.With four really tough games still to come, though, there remains a chance that Liverpool finish outside of the Premier League’s top five. That would obviously mean Europa League football for the Reds, unless Aston Villa can do them a favour and go all the way in this year’s UEL.
Here's how the table looks after the Reds' 3-1 win over Palace 👇 Photo credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC A Villa Europa League win would take the pressure off LiverpoolMany supporters may feel that the race for Champions League qualification is nearly over after Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace.However, their last four games are against the teams currently sitting in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th. There will be no easy rides on the way to the end of the season.Liverpool fans will have one eye on Brighton down in sixth, and will be concerned that the tough nature of their remaining fixtures could still see them miss out.If Villa lose to Nottingham Forest and crash out in this week’s Europa League semi-final, finishing sixth would mean Liverpool definitely would not play Champions League football for the first time since 2023/24.Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Supercomputer predicts Liverpool’s Champions League qualification chances with four tough matches to comeBut if Unai Emery’s side can navigate past their Midlands’ rivals and then beat either Freiburg or Braga in the final, sixth in the Premier League will be enough to qualify for the 2026/27 Champions League.The one caveat is if Villa themselves fall out of the top five.
If they do, and also go on to win the Europa League, it will provide a security blanket for Liverpool.Who are the Europa League favourites?With Emery at the helm, Villa are overwhelming favourites to lift the Europa League on May 20th.A double-header against an in-form Forest will not be easy for them to overcome, but over two legs they should still have enough. The Spaniard has won more Europa League titles than any other manager having won three on the bounce with Sevilla from 2013 to 2016.Having also collected the trophy with Villarreal in 2021, and qualified for the final while in charge of Arsenal in 2019, Emery is a virtual guarantee at this level.Liverpool may not need the security of a sixth-placed finish to get them over the line and into next year’s Champions League, but while they may not often back their English counterparts in Europe, they should be rooting for Villa to go all the way in 2026.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox