‘We’ll have City tops on’: John McGinn Reveals He Hopes That Man City Defeat Spurs To Seal Villa’s Top-Four Spot

John McGinn, the captain of Aston Villa, made a joke after their draw with Liverpool. He says he and his colleagues would wear Manchester City shirts in the hopes that Pep Guardiola’s club will help them secure a Champions League position by defeating Tottenham.

Villa would secure fourth place and a trip back to Europe’s top tournament for the first time since 1982–83 if Spurs failed to defeat the champions. In Jürgen Klopp’s final road game, Villa moved a step closer to securing a Champions League ticket. This is thanks to a dramatic late double from substitute Jhon Durán against Liverpool.

Emiliano Martínez’s own goal gave Liverpool the lead in just 62 seconds, and goals from Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah made it 3-1 after 48 minutes. However, in the last five minutes of play time, Durán, who had only scored once in the league since September, scored twice.

If Spurs beat Man City,  the race for the top four will be the final day when Villa travel to Crystal Palace and ­Tottenham visit Sheffield United. “There’s some of us that have never been close to the Champions League in our life,” McGinn said.

“Unai Emery, the manager, has a no-excuse mindset. We’ve become overlooked and written off by people. Our Man City jerseys will go on [Tuesday]. Big Jhon is a nightmare to play against since he can be a little crazy at times. The last few minutes were a fantastic effort. We had some good fortune. These past several weeks have been difficult because the boys have been returning and playing through their pain.”

Following the final whistle of an intense match, Klopp showered the enthusiastic Liverpool supporters with kisses and raised his cap. Regarding the moment he had with the supporters at full time, he remarked, “I enjoyed it, as always.” he said, of the moment he shared with the fans at full time.“I still don’t feel like it’s the last time or whatever. I’m obviously more professional than I thought because I was completely in the game. I didn’t think for a second that it’s my last away game. I had no movie. I was completely in the game. I appreciate so much what these boys and girls have been doing. The away fans, as always, were absolutely insane.”

Captain Andy Robert­son who missed the game as a precaution and will return to training on Tuesday. “I don’t feel frustrated today,” Klopp said. “Maybe I should but I just don’t. We’ve all seen these kind of games before when one team is playing for absolutely every­thing and another is fixed in the position they are. Emery’s teams are historically sensationally well organised.”