Ollie Watkins scored twice and provided an assist as Aston Villa brushed aside Liverpool to seal qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for Villa in the first half with a superb finish, but Liverpool responded early in the second period when Virgil van Dijk headed home from a set-piece.
Villa quickly regained control five minutes later after Dominik Szoboszlai slipped in possession, allowing Watkins to punish Liverpool with a clinical finish before the striker added his second from close range in the 73rd minute.
John McGinn later produced a stunning long-range effort to extend Villa’s lead, while Van Dijk grabbed a late consolation goal for Liverpool, who suffered their 19th defeat in all competitions this season.
The defeat leaves Arne Slot’s side still fighting to secure Champions League football, with the battle potentially going down to the final day depending on results elsewhere.
Villa, meanwhile, can now shift focus to Wednesday’s Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul as Unai Emery’s men chase their first major trophy in three decades.
Despite the huge European final ahead, Emery stuck with the same side that defeated Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals, while Liverpool were again without Alexander Isak, who was rested because of a minor injury.
After a quiet opening period, Villa broke the deadlock through a brilliantly worked corner routine that ended with Rogers curling home his 10th league goal of the campaign.
Liverpool equalised in the 52nd minute when Szoboszlai’s free-kick picked out Van Dijk, who powered in a header.
Rio Ngumoha later struck the post for Liverpool, but the visitors gifted Villa another opportunity when Szoboszlai lost his footing deep inside his own half. Rogers capitalised and teed up Watkins, who calmly finished past Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Slot responded by introducing Florian Wirtz and Federico Chiesa, but Villa continued to dominate. Shortly after Emiliano Buendia rattled the woodwork with a brilliant effort, Watkins tapped in his second after Mamardashvili had denied Pau Torres.
Mohamed Salah also came off the bench as Liverpool searched for a way back, but McGinn’s powerful strike from outside the area effectively sealed the victory before Van Dijk scored a late consolation for the visitors.
