Olie Watkins Shines As Aston Villa Thrash Liverpool

 

Aston Villa have consolidated their position in the Premier League top four, defeating Liverpool 4-2 as Ollie Watkins led the scoring with a brace at Villa Park. 

Liverpool could not regain its winning ways after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, extending their losses across all competitions this season to 19. They have slipped out of the top four but might still qualify for the UEFA Champions League. 

Just as Watkins, Virgil van Dijk also scored a brace, including one from a set piece. However, Villa took the lead near the closing minutes of the first half as Morgan Rogers curled  Digne's pass into the left corner. 

 Van Dijk restored level terms, heading home Dominik Szoboszlai's cross six minutes after the halftime break. Unfortunately for the Reds, Rogers capitalised on a defensive error and slipped a pass through to Watkins, who struck the ball into the net. The striker later doubled his tally; Allison saved a rebound shot, and he tapped the loose ball into the net. 

Villa's fourth was a masterclass. Digne played in Watkins, who, in return, slipped the ball to McGinns. The winger maintained his composure inside the 18-yard box and curled the ball into the top corner. As the game reached injury time, Van Dijk doubled the Reds' tally, nodding home a cross from Szobozslai after a corner. 

With two games remaining before the season closes, Villa are in a comfortable position to secure a top-four finish.  Also, they secured their first European major final after defeating Nottingham Forest in the UEFA Europa League semi-final.