Aston Villa’s season started off poorly as Steven Gerrard’s reign in Birmingham took a turn for the worse in the early stages of the 2022/23 campaign. But the arrival of former Villarreal, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain tactician Unai Emery changed everything at Villa Park – and an extraordinary revival saw the Villans surge up the standings.The next stop in Villa’s revival is qualifying for European competitions, something the 1982 European Cup (today’s Champions League) winners haven’t done since the 2010/11 campaign. In the meantime, fans of the historic club had to deal with the infamy of relegation and uncertainty, but with Emery at the helm, they can look forward to something good.48. ⚽️ Jacob Ramsey 🅰️ Douglas Luiz vs Liverpool#avfc | #utv | #vtid pic.twitter.com/aA9ZNgBTNv— Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) May 22, 2023 Aston Villa’s hopes of qualifying for European football were boosted with a crucial point at Anfield on Saturday after Tottenham lost 3-1 at home to Brentford. Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring for Villa in the first half before Liverpool responded late on with Roberto Firmino’s strike on his final appearance at Anfield. After the final whistle, Emery revealed the challenge he set his players at the start of February.”I was telling them my objective was to progressively get a top-10 position and then try to be competitive and try to arrive in the last match against Brighton, maybe playing for something. That was after we had escaped from the bottom, but were not totally safe. The players have taken on the challenge and I’m very proud. Now we will enjoy the week and try to reconnect with our supporters ahead of the game with Brighton, hoping to qualify for Europe. Brighton are playing amazing football, but I will use my experiences to help everyone at the club.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7268751##The best possible placing for Villa is now seventh, and if they defeat the Seagulls at Villa Park on Sunday, they will be guaranteed a spot in the Europa Conference League. As long as Tottenham don’t better their result against Leeds and Brentford don’t beat Manchester City, Villa will still finish in seventh place even if they draw with Brighton.The Bees’ slender hopes of making the top seven were improved by their victory at Tottenham, but if they want to finish ahead of both Villa and Spurs, they must defeat City. If Villa lose against Brighton and Spurs win, or if Brentford win against Manchester City at home, they will be eliminated from the European spots.Unai Emery: “We were speaking two months ago, if we can get to the last match against Brighton at home, playing for something important, and now it is in our hands.” ✊ pic.twitter.com/ZEFKpkMkOQ— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 20, 2023 Villa fans are quietly dusting off their passports. They are so close now.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 37SaturdayTottenham – Brentford 1-3 (1-0)/Kane 8 – Mbeumo 50, 62, Wissa 88/Bournemouth – Manchester United 0-1 (0-1)/Casemiro 9/Fulham – Crystal Palace 2-2 (1-1)/Mitrovic 45+5 pen, 61 – Edouard 34, Ward 83/Liverpool – Aston Villa 1-1 (0-1)/Firmino 89 – Ramsey 27/Wolves – Everton 1-1 (1-0)/Hee-Chan 34 – Mina 90+9/Nottingham Forest – Arsenal 1-0 (1-0)/Awoniyi 19/SundayWest Ham – Leeds 3-1 (1-1)/Rice 31, Bowen 72, Lanzini 90+4 – Rodrigo 17/Brighton – Southampton 3-1 (2-0)/Ferguson 29, 40, Gross 69 – Elyounoussi 58/Man City – Chelsea 1-0 (1-0)/Alvarez 12/Monday22:00: (1.41) Newcastle (5.00) Leicester (8.16)odds are subject to change******odds are subject to change
