Paul Merson names what he desperately wants to happen in Liverpool match at Aston Villa

Arsenal's victory at Manchester United ensured their battle with Manchester City for the Premier League title will go to the last day of the season. It also ensured Liverpool could finish no higher than third no matter what results they achieve in their trip to Aston Villa tonight or in Sunday's home clash with Wolves, which will be Jurgen Klopp's last match in charge of the club.

However, in the opinion of one Gunners legend, Klopp's third-placed side have still got a huge part to play in the outcome of the championship.

It's arguably a bigger game for Villa this evening. Fresh from their painful Europa Conference League semi-final exit, they would seal fourth place and their qualification for next season's Champions League with victory over the Reds.

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But should Unai Emery's men draw or lose to Liverpool, that could open the door to Tottenham Hotspur snatching the fourth and final Champions League spot. Spurs are currently four points behind Villa in fifth and on Tuesday welcome second-placed Man City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

So while Lilywhites supporters would be loathe to see Arsenal win the title, helping their biggest rivals could also aid their own chances of making it into European football's premier club competition.

That is why Paul Merson, who won two league championships with the Gunners, will be cheering on the Reds when they face another of his former clubs, Villa, on Monday Night Football.

“If Villa get beat, Tottenham are still in the race (for the Champions League),” Merson said Sky Sports. “So they need to get something (against City), if Villa get beat. Every Arsenal fan needs Villa to get beat tomorrow. If Liverpool can get a result, Tottenham have to stay hungry on Tuesday.

“If Liverpool win by two or three goals, all of a sudden Villa play Crystal Palace (on the final day of the season). No-one wants to play Palace at the moment and Tottenham go to Sheffield United.

“If Villa get a result, there’s no way. They won’t be playing for anything. I’ve played in those games... they don’t want Arsenal to win the league whatever happens.

“It will get to a stage where Tottenham fans will cheer if Man City score, they will. The one thing they don’t want is for Arsenal to win the league - the one thing.

“But they have no choice, if Villa get beat, than to stay hungry.”

City are currently one point behind Arsenal with their game in hand coming against Spurs. On the final day, the defending champions host West Ham United, while the Gunners entertain Everton.