Thursday was tough, but we knew it was going to be after the first leg. And there are lots of reasons for it or lots that we can call out, but maybe after this post, I leave it.
I've been writing about tiredness the past few weeks and I think we are. I don't think it's purely physical, but there are elements of that, I think it's just been a long season. And it would have been nice if the League gave a break to teams in the latter stages of tournaments like this, but I understand why they can't. Or don't.
And we'll learn from that and it will be better next season. I have no doubt there will be a player or three brought in and next season we'll have some players back from injury that the manager may want to keep at the Club. And it may not be better, but we can hope. And that hope starts today.
We all know that if Spurs lose today at home to Burnley, top four is confirmed. I don't think Spurs will lose, but you never know in football. Burnley are not yet relegated and this is a must win game for them today if they are to stand a chance.
If they lose, they are relegated. A draw will give them a mathematical chance, but it's one of those numbers that mean they are effectively relegated, so it would be nice to think that they'll head to Spurs wanting a fighting chance. And football is a funny old game.
But this weekend for us, is a rest. We play on Monday night at Villa Park and if Spurs win today and we win on Monday, then it's done. But you know what comes next. If Spurs win today and we lose on Monday, it then comes down to us wanting Manchester City to beat Spurs on Tuesday.
If that doesn't happen, it comes down to the last game of the season. And that would make the Crystal Palace game a very nervous match. I don't think it will go down to the last game of the season, that's almost too well written, even for the Premier League, but again, football is a funny old game.
Today, I'm going to put a fire on, turn on a radio station, make a big breakfast before resting in front of the TV. It's going to be an interesting few days.
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-Head
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Liverpool have won on eight of their last nine top-flight visits to Villa Park; the exception was a Premier League club record 7-2 defeat in October 2020.
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This is Aston Villa's 100th home game against Liverpool in all competitions (W40, D21, L38).
Aston Villa
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Villa are vying to finish in the top four of the Premier League for only the third time, and first since 1995-96.
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They are one short of equalling club Premier League records of 21 wins and 13 home victories in a season, both set in 1992-93.
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Their tally of 73 top-flight goals this season is their highest since 1976-77, when they scored 76 and finished fourth.
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Liverpool are the only opponents Unai Emery has faced as a manager in the Premier League without ever winning (D2, L4). He is is winless in nine competitive matches against Jurgen Klopp since the Spaniard’s Sevilla side beat Liverpool 3-1 in the 2016 Europa League final.
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Ollie Watkins still needs one league goal to become the first Villa player to score 20 in a top-flight season since Peter Withe in 1980-81.
Liverpool
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Liverpool’s two wins in their seven league matches this season against the rest of the current top five were both at home, including against Villa.
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They have only once lost lost their final Premier League away fixture in eight seasons under Jürgen Klopp, a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea in 2018 (W5, D2).
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Liverpool can go 10 successive league games without a clean sheet for the first time since a run of 11 in 1998 under Roy Evans.
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Mohamed Salah has scored seven goals in nine starts against Aston Villa in all competitions.
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Alisson is poised to make his 200th Premier League appearance.
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Jürgen Klopp must win his final two games as Liverpool manager to reach 300 victories with the club in all competitions.