How many points Liverpool need for Champions League qualification after Aston Villa draw

The state of play in the battle for Champions League qualification after a weekend in which Liverpool and Aston Villa both dropped points

Liverpool remain fourth in the Premier League table going into the final two rounds of the season despite having to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea on Saturday.

Liverpool had hoped to bounce back from their painful 3-2 loss at bitter-rivals Manchester United and they made the perfect start at Anfield after Ryan Gravenberch curled in a beautiful early opener.

But that was as good as it got for the Reds, who let their out-of-form opponents back into the contest and were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

That gave Aston Villa the chance ti move above the defending champions into fourth on Sunday when they travelled to already-relegated Burnley.

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But, feeling the effects of their Europa League semi-final success over Nottingham Forest three days earlier, fifth-placed Villa struggled to a 2-2 draw, which means their chances of qualifying for the Champions League remain in the balance.

That's because sixth-placed Bournemouth won 1-0 at Fulham and seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion won 3-0 at home to basement boys Wolves respectively on Saturday.

Villa are now level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool with both teams being four points above Bournemouth and six above Brighton.

That makes Friday night's clash between Villa and the Reds at Villa Park a crucial one - because if there is a winner, they would move seven points clear of the Cherries and nine above the Seagulls and therefore seal Champions League qualification.

Should the encounter end in a draw, that would give Bournemouth the chance to close the gap further when they return to action at home to title-challenging Manchester City on Tuesday, May 19. A draw on Friday would end Brighton's hopes of finishing in the top five.

But there is a chance that sixth spot could also guarantee Champions League football.

That scenario will play out if Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League final against Freiburg, which takes place on Wednesday, May 20 before the last round of Premier League matches, which sees Liverpool hosting Brentford in what is sure to be an emotional afternoon given it will mark the final appearances for the club for Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.

But for all the permutations, the task facing the Reds is a simple one - win one of their last two games and Champions League football will be theirs, which after an incredibly testing season, would be something.

Final fixtures for teams fighting for Champions League qualification

Liverpool (fourth, 59 points): Aston Villa (A), Friday, May 15; Brentford (H), Sunday, May 24

Aston Villa (fifth, 59 points): Liverpool (H), Friday, May 15; Manchester City (A), Sunday, May 24

Bournemouth (sixth, 55 points): Manchester City (H), Tuesday, May 19; Nottingham Forest (A), Sunday, May 24

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