Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa beat Liverpool 4-2 on Friday and secured Champions League qualification, something which Arne Slot’s side are still chasing
Ollie Watkins has given a damning assessment of Liverpool and their ‘disjointed’ defence after scoring another two goals against the faltering Premier League champions. Watkins, 30, scored Aston Villa’s second and third goals as they beat Liverpool 4-2 on Friday night.
Only Harry Kane and Andy Cole have scored more Premier League goals against Liverpool than Watkins, who has eight. The England international spoke post-match about how he was able to expose Arne Slot’s side, as Villa leapfrogged them into fourth place and secured Champions League football for next season.
“Liverpool play a high line and don’t play offside so they’re disjointed at the back and feel like there’s a lot of space for me to run into,” Watkins told Sky Sports. “No disrespect to them, the centre-backs are world class but I spot space and opportunities. I like to run in behind.
“Just before the goal, I was disappointed because I went offside, they play such a high line. I shouldn’t be offside in that position but to grab that goal a minute later, me and Morgan [Rogers] have a great connection.
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“Buzzing Pau [Torres] missed that, I knew I wasn’t offside. It’s horrible when it goes to VAR you never know but you can’t ask for anything more as a striker with a little tap in there.”
In contrast, it was another miserable night for Slot. Liverpool will finish the season with nine defeats from their 19 away games in the league, conceding 33 goals.
“In general teams struggle more away from home but for a top team like us it’s far too many losses and dropped points,” Slot admitted. “|That hugely has to do with the way we concede is far too easy in general.
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“We have chances but we’ve not been as clinical in fishing them this season as we were last season. It doesn’t help that [Alexander] Isak has hardly played for us or that Hugo [Ekitike] has been unavailable.
“It is what it is. Next week, Brentford is where our focus is.”
Liverpool will be handed a place in the Champions League if Bournemouth lose at home to Manchester City next Tuesday, otherwise it’ll go down to the final day.
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