Big games are all about mentality and belief. Liverpool may well view the match as a valedictory lap on their way to an inevitable Champions League spot. But if Villa internalize the positive elements the game holds for them, they can turn it into just another match, rather than a celebration. And that’s how you get a result.
No real changes today, but welcome faces await on the bench. A result gives Villa a top-10 finish for the first time in over a decade. A win, and Europe remains distinctly possible. It’s all to play for, as they say.
Wolves and Europe, yes. But perhaps the even bigger talking point is that Villa look set to land Mateu Alemany from Barcelona, and the press is wild with links to all sorts of players and lavish spending. No one in this side is safe even if they already speak Spanish. They should have something to prove today.
Villa likely need to take at least something today. A win would be fabulous, a draw might well do. The big thing is maintaining momentum and belief. At this point, it’s all about belief and desire.
Tonight is all about putting Fulham out of the picture and keeping pressure on Liverpool and Brighton. Every game is an opportunity to get a step closer without overwhelming the side with what would be an almost miraculous run. We have our six-pointers ahead of us, and that’s about all you can hope for. To win out we obviously have to keep them from doing the same.
