Aston Villa are scheduled to face Liverpool in a 12:30pm (7:30am ET) kick-off on Sunday, May 17, though the fixture is likely to be rescheduled for a second time.
FA Cup Final Impact
Due to the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea taking place on the Saturday of that weekend, all Premier League matches had already been pushed back by approximately 24 hours.
Europa League Final Possibility
Should Villa progress beyond Nottingham Forest to reach the Europa League final, the match will be brought forward by two days to Friday evening. In that scenario, Villa vs Liverpool would get under way at 8pm (3pm ET) on Friday, May 15, with the Europa League final in Istanbul to follow the next Wednesday. Regardless of the date, Sky Sports will broadcast the match.
Villa's Europa League Prospects
Villa are considered favourites to advance past Forest in one semi-final, while the other pits German side Freiburg against Portuguese outfit Braga.
Recent Form
Last weekend, Villa slipped below Liverpool in the Premier League table following defeat to Fulham, as the Reds overcame Crystal Palace. The two clubs are level on points, sitting three behind Manchester United, ahead of Arne Slot's side heading to Old Trafford on Sunday, with Villa facing Tottenham later that same afternoon.
Unai Emery's Comments
"We expected this match because we respect them," Unai Emery remarked following Villa's defeat at Craven Cottage. "We knew before the match we needed to defend like we did, being compact and disciplined tactically as a team and individually as well, and we did. Even like that, we could concede one goal like we conceded. When we were with our momentum, dominating and breaking their high press and getting into their box, we had chances. We had four very good chances: two for Watkins and one for Tammy and Morgan. Normally with those circumstances, we could expect before the match to achieve something. We must be clinical when we are creating chances like today. I was a little bit frustrated because in Nottingham two weeks ago we had the same chances as today. This is something we must keep improving, to be clinical in the attacking third."
Emery boasts an impressive track record in the Europa League, and appears well-placed to steer Villa into the Champions League without necessarily needing to lift the trophy, though doing so would represent a remarkable accomplishment.
"Next week we're going to play in Nottingham in the Europa League and we're going to focus on that match," he added. "We have a 25 per cent chance to win. There are another three teams with us - 25 per cent each team - to play the final. We've still got work to do to be ready for next Thursday, but the Premier League is not done."
