When you say it out loud it sounds a bit wild but when you think about it, it really isn’t: Aston Villa should be Premier League title contenders next season. Even the most ardent Villa supporter may raise an eyebrow at that statement,

It's looking like it will go down to the wire, with Villa's statement on Saturday putting Unai Emery's team in a great spot

Things are heating up in (a particular section of) the Premier League. As football fans enjoyed a fine slate of Champions League action in midweek, for a few top-flight clubs it was a reminder of what could be theirs in 2025-26 if they manage to complete one simple task: finish in the top five.