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Villa winning the Europa League can only benefit Bournemouth under a long list of circumstances, including Liverpool passing Villa in the table this weekend.

From Sky Sports: "If Villa win the Europa League...

Villa finish third or fourth: The Premier League's top five go into the Champions League, sixth and seventh into Europa League, eighth into Conference League.

Villa finish fifth: The extra Champions League spot would be passed on to sixth and the Premier League would give up its Europa League spot for league position."

so I hope you all are enjoying it. As I texted my long-suffering Gooner buddy yesterday, I don't see you guys beating PSG, but who knows? "One-nil to the Arsenal" seems to be back in fashion...

Commiserations, meanwhile, to our Spurs contingent, who are a few bad breaks away from the worst of all possible seasons. I still think they'll survive, but I'm less sure than I was a day ago.

As for Liverpool and their UCL hopes, check this possible, if implausible, scenario:

How We Get a Fifth Place/CL Playoff

With Bournemouth drawing City today they're three back of us but we have a significant +6GD advantage. Still, it's not impossible we could lose by two and they could beat a disinterested Forest by four. Very, very unlikely. But not impossible.

At that point, the next tiebreaker would be goals scored, where we have an even bigger edge of +5 (and that's bigger because it means Bournemouth need +5 on their own so, eg., a 5-0 win for them and a 1-0 loss for us but if we lose 2-1 they then need 6-0 to equal our goals scored).

If we were to somehow go level on GD and GS it'd go to head-to-head points and then head-to-head away goals. We're even on both. After that: playoff!

So. If we lose 1-0 and they win 5-0 (or if we lose 2-1 and they win 6-1) we would get a playoff for who gets the final CL slot. Which almost certainly won't happen but would definitely be the most hideously stupid way to end this hideously stupid season.

https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/post/B7Ldc2ox8rkR

Currently laying dumbfounded on my hotel bed.

Now you’re gonna believe us……

baby steps and all.

Probably in the 12th minute of extra time.

I would enjoy their going out with a whimper for a variety of reasons but....assume I'll be necking valium on Sunday.

assuming, that is, that West Ham don't beat Leeds by nine or more goals.

I'd be anxious, too, but the odds are still firmly in your favor.

I'm misinformed.

4-0 Chelsea, then.

They are in with a shout to Europa League right now, and can get as high as backing into Champions League with some help.

tired and demoralized after their Sunday loss in the Cup Final, and the fact that Chelsea has nothing to play for. And the Blues being generally shit at home.

But I wouldn't bet on it; Stamford Bridge is a particular house of horrors for Spurs, who've won there just twice since 1990. I'm thinking 2-1 Chelsea, with the dagger coming as absolutely late as possible in stoppage time immediately following a Spurs penalty shout at the other end (Spurs are 12th in touches inside the opponent's box, but are somehow yet to draw a single penalty all year.)

To summarize: Arsenal will win the league if City drop points against Bournemouth; Liverpool will clinch a Champions League spot if City win, and they'll effectively clinch if City and Bournemouth draw; Tottenham will dodge relegation if they beat Chelsea, though a draw will pretty much do; a win for City will take the title race to the final day; a Chelsea win gives West Ham a glimmer of hope.

So, yeah, loads of angst for all. I'm betting City win one for the soon-to-depart Pep, giving my Reds the UCL spot they so richly don't deserve, and Spurs will grab a point and survive by the skin of their teeth.