BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Ollie Watkins scored two and had another disallowed as Aston Villa set itself up nicely for next week’s Europa League final with a stylish 4-2 win at home against Liverpool on Friday.
Victory also guaranteed Villa a place in next year’s Champions League.
Click to Gallery
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili fails to prevent Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, not shown, from scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, left, scores a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, front, tries to block Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers from the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
The win just five days before Villa face Freiburg in the Europa League decider means Unai Emery’s men ensured a top five finish in the Premier League.
"It’s a great performance and a great way to end the season at Villa Park,” captain John McGinn told broadcaster Sky Sports “We’ve just made this club a Champions League club again, and it allows us to be excited and enjoy the game on Wednesday.
“We’ve got a chance to get some silverware but the fact we’re in the Champions League is an unbelievable achievement.”
Liverpool was three points behind in fifth and still sweating whether it will make it into next year’s Champions League.
Liverpool had the better of the opening exchanges with Cody Gakpo seeing a goal ruled out for offside and Emiliano Martinez pushing away a swerving long-range effort from Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, Villa found its composure as the half went on and took the lead three minutes before halftime. Morgan Rogers placed a perfect right-foot shot beyond the reach of Giorgi Mamardashvili after a well-worked corner kick.
Virgil van Dijk’s header eight minutes into the second half brought Liverpool level but Villa started to dominate as the game opened up.
Watkins had a goal chalked off for offside but made up for it just a few minutes later when he took advantage of a slip by Szoboszlai that set Villa free on the counterattack.
He added a third in the 73rd when he side-footed home from point-blank range after Mamardashvili made two excellent stops.
It was Watkins’ sixth goal in his last seven league games and he was a constant threat to a Liverpool rearguard that looked shaky every time Villa stormed forward.
Emiliano Buendía had a long-range effort smack the bar — Rio Ngumoha did the same for Liverpool at the other end — then McGinn added the fourth two minutes from time with a superbly placed shot into the far corner.
Van Dijk made it 4-2 in stoppage time with a header but it was scant consolation for a Liverpool team that looked tired and sluggish.
“We’ve conceded far too many games, but we also haven’t scored enough goals," said Reds coach Arne Slot, who admitted his team lacked backbone after going behind in the second half.
"(After) the 2-1 we crumbled, we struggled. In the end made it 4-2, so they did not give up, but we struggled to control their pace, intensity and quality.”
Liverpool's last game of the season is at Brentford on May 24, while Villa takes on Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on the same day.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili fails to prevent Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, not shown, from scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, left, scores a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, front, tries to block Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers from the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — The paint-splattered wood ladder had to be decades old, yet for a cheap seat at the PGA Championship, the top cap would have to do.
Pat Concannon and his friends — two who made the trip from Europe just to watch the golf major — positioned their ladder and the bed of their Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck just a short putt away from the temporary fence that lined the first hole at Aronimink Golf Club.
“This is the best seat in the house,” Concannon said. “Everyone can watch it from over there. Not everyone can watch it from over here.”
The friends were getting thirsty early Friday and time for a beer run was getting tight before the world's No. 1 golfer was about to traipse through their backyard.
“Make it quick,” one reveler yelled, “because I think Scottie Scheffler is coming next.”
Cold beers were delivered and Concannon and his friends toasted the day and the unobstructed — and absolutely free — view as they peered like Wilson from “Home Improvement” over the fence to watch the second round where the best golfers in the world touched down a short walk from his uncle's garage.
No old man cries here of, get off my lawn!
Enterprising home owners in the tony neighborhood that lined Aronimink set up ladders, rented platforms and turned their streets into the sites of the block party of the weekend — just respect the quiet please sign — just off the cart-worn path of the 130-year-old course.
The volume could get cranked to 11 later in the night.
Once play was concluded, a Bruce Springsteen cover band — the E Street Shuffle Band — was set to take the stage. Or is it a lawn?
The home owners decided to think outside the tee box when it came to affordable golf, though some of them are Aronimink members and had purchased tickets that stretched well over $1,000 each, depending on the day.
Jim Hageney moved into his home outside the first hole two years ago and is in the midst of renovations that essentially gutted the inside. Up near the chimney, construction workers paused on their lunch break for a birds-eye view some 50 feet above the chip shots and booming drives below.
Hageney and his guests mingled about 10 feet up on one of three platforms — for about $2,000 total — rented by his family and two neighbors.
They are about the most popular people at Aronimink not named Rory or Rickie or Scottie. Golf fans shout — well, it's golf, so mildly raise their voice — at Hageney and friends asking how they can snag a spot outside the course and inside the fence at the property.
If they could find the opening along the fence near the fourth hole and turn left, they might have some luck at getting close to the neighborhood.
Or, they can empty their pockets and buy a house where one on the market advertised it was at Aronimink's fourth tee.
Party crashers have been kept in check.
Roads were mostly closed — no parking by temporary police order signs dotted the street — and the Hageney family put up a “Private By Invite Only” sign in their driveway.
Hageney said nine trees were removed around their property line ahead of the PGA.
“It’s great for me,” Hageney said. “Great view. Unobstructed view.”
And no long line at the concession stand!
The Hageneys had their platform delivered last week and there were no issues with the viewing risers or other towering platforms like it — one without railings went up near the 14th green — and the occasional golfer even politely waved back to their well wishes.
“We had checked with the PGA, and the people were very, very polite,” the 63-year-old Hageney said. “They said be respectful.”
One local family hired a company to build a raised platform dubbed the “sky deck" and invited their new best friends for drinks and nibbles and hanging out in genteel surroundings.
The Bellew family even created a website where fans could RSVP for an American Evening on the Fairway.
“Experience golf, atmosphere, and an unforgettable weekend,” the website read. “In celebration of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, join us at our home for a memorable weekend of gathering, championship viewing, and celebration.”
Headed into the weekend, there were no reports of inebriated patrons falling over the fence or course marshals trying to keep the noise down — just the ladders up.
“It's pretty safe, right," Concannon asked.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Jim Hageney, left, and his wife Eileen Hageney watch the PGA Championship golf tournament from a rented platform in their backyard outside the Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026 in Newtown Square, Pa. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Construction workers watch the PGA Championship golf tournament from the roof of a home outside Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026 in Newtown Square, Pa. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Golf fans pose for a photo while watching the PGA Championship golf tournament from pickup trucks and ladders from neighborhood homes outside Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026 in Newtown Square, Pa. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
