Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool - Player Ratings, Match Report, and Premier League Highlights

Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool - Player Ratings, Match Report, and Premier League Highlights

Aston Villa confirm their UEFA Champions League spot as they beat Liverpool 4-2 in a fantastic game at Villa Park. The hosts dominated large parts of the game and Liverpool fans are wondering how Slot is still in with a job!

An Ollie Watkins brace, and two beauties from Morgan Rogers and captain John Mcginn were more than enough to see the home side past Liverpool, despite two headers from Virgil Van Dijk.

This result means Liverpool are still needing a win on the final day in order to secure a UEFA Champions League spot, however if they carry on in this form, and performances elsewhere are strong, then they may miss out on the spot which once seemed guaranteed.

Match Highlights

Aston Villa vs Liverpool as it Happened

Villa started as the aggressors as yet again Liverpool struggled to contain the opposition on the counter attack.

Chances for Watkins and Rogers early on but nothing that threatened Liverpool too badly, Villa had the chance to get the breakthrough early but their forwards couldn't take their chances.

Mamardashvili made a decent save and Watkins spun Van Dijk but skied the chance, pressure was on Liverpool early but they managed to fight through it.

Big let-off as Watkins fires over after getting the better of Van Dijk

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) May 15, 2026

After 15 minutes Liverpool grew in to the game, particularly through their left hand side, as Rio Ngumoha weaved his way around the box on multiple occasions, giving Matty Cash some huge problems.

Some retained pressure from Liverpool led to Martinez spilling a Gravenberch shot and it falling to Gakpo who slotted it home, however the Dutch forward was offside, keeping the score even.

Liverpool had a period of sustained pressure but struggled to create any real chances. Aston Villa capitalised on this and showed yet again just how poor Liverpool have been defensively this season.

Villa took a short corner to the edge of the box and then found Morgan Rogers, who cooly as ever placed it into the far corner beautifully, putting Villa infront yet again this season.

Yet another set piece conceded by Liverpool this season. almost every week they have the same weaknesses and each team are exploiting them.

The only reason Slot isn’t getting sacked is because of ego, Hughes & Edwards are too egotistical to admit they were wrong with him, he’s not capable of building his own team.

— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) May 15, 2026

Liverpool started the half with a point to prove... and they did this almost straight away, with Virgil Van Dijk stepping up and bringing his side level from another set piece.

This was short lived as from this moment onwards... it was all Aston Villa.

Just five minutes after, a slip from szoboszlai on the edge of his own box led to Ollie Watkins slotting the ball home past the keeper and restoring the home lead. An unlucky goal to concede, however things didn't stop there.

The next 20 minutes were frantic, with chances at both ends. Rio hit the post as he cut inside yet again, causing Villa more problems, however Liverpool couldn't convert an open play chance.

Another set piece and yet again Liverpool concede. This time a bit of luck went Villa's way as two strong saves from Mamardashvili weren't enough as Ollie Watkins bagged his second from only a few yards out, extending their lead.

Now this was the goal of the match. 89th minute, edge of the box. John McGinn whips a beauty right in the top corner! No keeper was saving this one as Villa made the score 4-1.

This truly was a game of set pieces as the Liverpool skipper Van Dijk scored his second header of the game in the dying stages, however this meant nothing to the overall tie.

Just remembered that Slot told friends he’d turn it around. pic.twitter.com/Ut7ZkI0l6V

— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) May 15, 2026

Aston Villa Player Ratings

GK - Emiliano Martínez - 6/10

Two headers conceded, and a big spill which led to an offside goal, however the Villa keeper made a few strong saves and overall had a decent game inbetween the sticks.

RB - Matty Cash - 6/10

Had a tough game up against wonderkid Rio Ngumoha. He had the better of the RB on a few occasions, however he still had a decent game with no huge errors.

CB - Ezri Konsa - 7/10

He kept Liverpool forwards quite for the vast majority, Konsa has been putting in strong performances for a while now, as the world cup looms.

CB - Pau Torres - 7/10

Much like his partner, he put in a solid game and kept Liverpool quiet in open play.

LB - Lucas Digne - 8/10

No real issues throughout the match and he managed to pick up an assist for the first goal of the match, however it was just a simple pass. Yet another solid performance heading into the Europa League final.

CM - Victor Lindelof - 7/10

Did his job in the center of midfield. Kept the ball moving and broke up play when needed. The usual CB didn't have a performance to shout about, however he did most things right throughout the match.

CM - Youri Tielemans - 7.5/10

A great performance from the midfielder yet again this season. Gets stuck in and his final ball is just unreal. What an asset that Villa have, severely underrated.

RM - John McGinn - 8/10

He ran the game throughout the match. The captain put in a fantastic performance, topped off by an absolute worldie right into the top corner in front of the Holt end. A perfect game for him.

AM - Morgan Rogers - /10

Goal and assist. This is just expected from him nowadays as he continues his fantastic season at Villa. That finish in the first half will keep on Tuchel's mind all the way to picking his starting XI for the World Cup.

LM - Emiliano Buendía - /10

Nothing special from Buendia, he was subbed off with a knock in the second half, with no real chances created from the attacker.

ST - Ollie Watkins - /10

Two goals one assist. An absolutely fantastic performance from Villa's striker. a tap in and a well taken finish, just as a striker likes it. He has really shown up for Villa in the last few weeks, he will hope for another game like this is in the Europa League final.

Sub 1 - Ross Barkley - 6.5/10

Kept Villa pushing since he came on at half time. Nothing to rave about but a decent shift off the bench.

Sub 2 - Ian Maatsen - 6/10

Sub 3 - Jadon Sancho - 6 /10

Sub 4 - Douglas Luiz - 6 /10

Liverpool Player Ratings

GK - Giorgi Mamardashvili - 7/10

Made some top saves. Despite conceding four, he stopped Liverpool from conceding a lot more.

RB - Joe Gomez - 5.5/10

Poor throughout the game both going forward and defensively. Gave the ball away too much and was one of the many weak points in this Liverpool side.

CB - Ibrahima Konaté - 6/10

A sloppy performance but made some strong challenges at key moments.

CB - Virgil van Dijk - 7.5/10

Not his best game defensively at all, with multiple bad moments defending his own box. He did however score twice, much more prolific then any of Liverpool's attackers.

LB - Milos Kerkez - 6/10

Was under pressure a lot and he didn't manage to break through it, another weak performance as you start to sense a pattern.

CM - Ryan Gravenberch - 5/10

Once again, he lost the ball too easily in midfield and found himself caught out of position on multiple occassions. Not his best game in a Liverpool shirt.

CM - Alexis Mac Allister - 6/10

A little bit better than his midfield partner. However Mac Allister didn't put in a great performance which has been the case for the last few months now.

Mac Allister foul baiting.

— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) May 15, 2026

CM - Curtis Jones - 6.5/10

Solid on the ball, however he couldn't make anything happen with it.

RW - Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.5/10

Two assists from two set pieces is always great, however after his huge slip which led to the second goal, and his overall performance, he can't get more than a 6.5.

LW - Rio Ngumoha - 7/10

Definitely Liverpool's best player yet again. He is the only one that you have any faith that he will actually make something happen. Caused multiple problems and narrowly missed out on another beautiful goal.

ST - Cody Gakpo - 6/10

Not in his natural position, so we can cut him some slack, however yet another ghost performance from Cody Gakpo. He is yet to prove himself this season at all.

Sub 1 - Florian Wirtz - 5/10

Sub 2 - Federico Chiesa - 5/10

Lost the ball which led to Villa's fourth. That's about it for Chiesa.

Sub 3 - Mohamed Salah - 6/10

Tried to get things going but nothing really came from this substitution.

Man Of the Match - Ollie Watkins

🗣️ "They're disjointed at the back and there's a lot of space for me to run into"

OIlie Watkins loves scoring against Liverpool 😅 pic.twitter.com/Ez7PTtcx2x

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 15, 2026

He caused the Liverpool defenders huge problems all night, even without the two goals that he bagged. He has found his form at the perfect moment, lets see if he takes it into the final coming up.

Bad Day at The Office - Ryan Gravenberch

Hooked before 70 minutes, a poor performance with a real lack of determination from the Dutchman. I feel slightly sorry for him, as he clearly isn't played to his strengths as he is constantly caught out of position. At this level however, you need him to turn up where ever he is played.