\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seven matches remain before the Premier League season wraps up and Unai Emery\u2019s side currently occupy fourth place, five points clear of Liverpool in fifth and a single point behind third-placed Manchester United<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Birmingham outfit have dazzled this campaign, remaining unbeaten in 22 of their 31 fixtures and edging closer to securing a return to Europe\u2019s top competition if they can maintain their cushion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Beyond the conventional top-four route, the Villans have another highway to the Champions League if they win the Europa League at the end of the season.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The first leg of their quarter-final against Bologna looms on 9th April at the Stadio Renato Dall\u2019Ara, with one former Italy international backing the English side to overcome I Rossoblu.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Since joining in 2023, Torres has made 100 appearances in the claret and blue shirt and believes Aston Villa have a genuine shot at a top-four finish this season, particularly as Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> and Newcastle United<\/a> have fallen out of contention for the top spots.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n He conceded it is still too early to discount Arne Slot\u2019s Liverpool, who remain capable of winning all their remaining fixtures and posing a formidable threat.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Aston Villa and Liverpool\u2019s final three PL games<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 29-year-old underlined that securing Champions League qualification would represent a perfect season for Aston Villa, stressing that the squad are fully committed to achieving that goal.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Torres told Spanish daily Marca<\/a>: \u201cUltimately, we know that when we\u2019re at our best, we can always take advantage of teams that aren\u2019t at their best, as has happened this year with Tottenham and Newcastle. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s still too early to talk about Liverpool, because we know their team are capable of winning all their remaining matches. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that\u2019s our role: to get involved with them, and it\u2019s very difficult for everyone to slip up so that we can gain an advantage. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut as I said, I think that qualifying for the Champions League makes for a perfect season for us, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re going to fight for it until the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Emery\u2019s side are stumbling through a rocky patch, managing just one win in their last five league outings, which has narrowed the gap to Liverpool and prompted a former Aston Villa star to warn that missed chances could see the club fade into mid-table obscurity.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The slump has also put the Spanish boss under the microscope, drawing criticism from a former Premier League star.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Everton_Armstrong_Pau_Torres_620_ofg.webp.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n\nAston Villa
\nLiverpool
\n<\/tr>\n\n Burnley (A)<\/td>\n Chelsea (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Liverpool (H)<\/td>\n Aston Villa (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Manchester City (A)<\/td>\n Brentford (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n ![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Liverpool_Arne_Slot15_620_ofg.webp.webp\"\/)
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