Game Week 37 Predictions: Villa and Liverpool to play out a draw

Aston Villa's last home game of the season sees them welcoming the outgoing champions. Will this end on a high for either side? (Photo c...

Aston Villa's last home game of the season sees them welcoming the outgoing champions. Will this end on a high for either side? (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Aston Villa vs. Liverpool

Villa Park

8:00pm

Aston Villa will file out in front of the Villa Park fans for the last time this season, hoping that the next time the ground welcomes them, another European trophy will be on the easel.

Villa will take on Freiburg in the Europa League final next week. You can sense it: Unai Emery's priorities lie in the cup final. How will the Spaniard approach the visit of Liverpool to Villa Park on Friday?

Liverpool hasn't been fantastic recently. Injury hasn't been kind to the reigning champions. Hugo Ekitike will not feature again until next year; you wonder if the club hierarchy will sanction another spending spree in the summer.

The game at Anfield against Chelsea tells the story of Liverpool this season. There was no point in the soon-to-be-concluded season where Liverpool felt like being able to defend their championship. They will hope to finish strongly.

Sixth place will be enough for Champions League football, provided Aston Villa beats Freiburg in the Europa League final. After failing to beat Burnley last weekend, Villa missed a huge opportunity to confirm their Champions League qualification via the league.

Liverpool missed a chance too. Had they beaten the Blues last weekend, a top-6 finish would have been guaranteed. Now, both sides are in danger of being usurped by the chasing pack of Bournemouth and Brighton.

Many Villa players have clocked out of the Premier League recently. Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and the entire defense have gone on holiday mentally. Only a handful of players have shown up in league games. They must keep an eye on things before they lose at both ends.

Liverpool's recent conversations in the media have centered around the position of Arne Slot. The Dutchman is confident he will be at the helm next season. If he somehow misses out on Champions League football, will that feeling remain the same?

Who are the players we trust to show up big in this game? Arne Slot has confirmed that Mohamed Salah will play some minutes. The Egyptian king will be able to say goodbye to Liverpool fans the right way.

We expect Rio Ngomouha to play some parts. Andy Robertson's time is winding down, too. Will he get a chance to feature in his last away game as a Liverpool player? Florian Wirtz has had an indifferent season; will he have a big say in this one?

For Villa, it's about managing the squad's fitness. Boubacar Kamara will not feature. Same as Amadou Onana, who has been named in Belgium's World Cup squad. Ollie Watkins is expected to lead the line, but will the Englishman turn up?

Verdict: Both teams to score.