Hey everyone, welcome to Red Men TV. It's the buildup show, second to last one of the season, but we're still bringing the energy.

It is Aston Villa versus Liverpool, Friday night football at Villa Park.

Champions League qualification on the line. And to preview it all, I'm Steve Ho. I'm joined by Chris Pageach and by Lewis Aspen all.

We are going to dive right into it. Gents, thanks so much to join us, Lewis. I'll start with you first, mate. Context of the game, big one. A win guarantees either side, the Champions League football for next season. A draw will put both teams five points above Bournemouth. Bournemouth will still have two games to play. One of those is Manchester City, one of them is Nottingham Forest. So Bournemouth would then have to win. Both games, obviously, to overtake both teams. A loss for either side makes things get a little bit more dicey in that regard. It opens the door up a little bit for Bournemouth in particular. So that's where we're at with it. The other context, we can't ignore.

We might as well speak out today, is that Aston Villa are five days away from a European final, one of the biggest games they've had for a long, long time. Probably, I guess, since the last time they won a European trophy in the 18s. So there's a lot of context this game, but it is a massive game from both teams, really. It's one now.

I wonder if you said to both managers now

as a point, would they both just shake hands and go, you know what, that'll do? We'll move on and fight another day. Possibly, but I think that's the wrong mentality for us to be having still at the moment, and that's just been the way all season. But, yeah, I think Villa, You look at their results recently, lose to Tottenham, smash it in the Europa League, you know, lose to, they scraped against Burnley, that draw that they got there. So they have been a bit poor in the league, and I think that has given me a lot of confidence with regards to getting this result. Because I think if we win as well, we're guaranteed fourth then, aren't we? because we're tied on points with Villa, but we've got like 10 more in the goal difference. So that's massive for us in particular. So, yeah, going into this, maybe we'd ask for a point either side, but I just don't want to go into that match with that mentality. I think you've got to go in and try and win it, obviously, I think. you know, I don't think I don't think Arnold would want a draw in this game I don't think he'd shake hands on a draw

I don't think Arnoldson would want a draw in this game. I don't think he'd shake hands on a drawer. I don't, you know, for me, I think he, I guess, will expect that Astonville will be playing a rotated squad like they have done in the Premier League in recent weeks. And as such, he wants to go there and he wants to try and get three points and wrap it up and secure it as early as possible because the more the rumbling it rumbles on even if it's just a week of Liverpool still maybe won't get Champions League football blah blah blah blah blah we've already if we do get it we've already limped in it's not good enough for Liverpool limping into the Champions League if you'd have to do it on the last day of the season it's not it's not good enough for Liverpool limping into the Champions League

if you'd have to do it on the last day of the season it's even worse just get it done

kind of thing and just get it done yeah yeah no I agree that that should be the

mindset but what I'm saying is I wouldn't be shocked at Liverpool who are used to losing

games a lot this season we're a point fine for us it keeps us above Aston Villa as well

it keeps them below us.

But yeah, I see both points.

I don't want people to go out play for a draw. Should be that clear. The rotated squathing on Villar is very interesting, Lewis, because they played Sunday, the final is until next Wednesday. And actually, if Aston Villa lose, that does open the door. it definitely opens the door for Bournemouth. It means that a draw against City and Bournemouth and Astinville are in a shootout at the last game of the season, effectively where someone can finish above the other one. Now, Villas' counteraction might just be, well, we'll just be Freiburg and within the Champions League, no matter what. But given that, it's Sunday to the following Wednesday in terms of their last game to the final with us in the middle I'm not sure you can rest and rotate players for that long it might be that he has to give them a game on Friday now might have to take them off or be where if anyone's carrying a little niggle or a knock then of course he won't play but I don't think it's one of those where he can just do a Carabal Cup team because the distances are too far

and like I say

the Champions League and the League

in the league is off the grabs as well

Yeah and the big thing for Villa

is their form tends to go in big

in like stretches

and it runs off momentum

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