It wouldn’t be Villa, even under Unai Emery, if you didn’t have heartburn. A season of ups and downs saw Villa wobbling down the stretch, but somehow they contrived to dispatch Forest with aplomb in the Europa semis, slump to a draw at Turf Moor, then produce a rousing performance in what turned out to be a Champions League play-in.

I’d have taken a draw.

Instead, Villa tapped into that semifinal energy and ended up frustrating then soundly beating the Anfield boys. If either side was going to score four, you wouldn’t have bet on it being Villa. But for the second time in three matches they did just that, and Slot’s men were left flopping and forlorn and looking over their shoulders. Villa closed out the home fixtures on an almighty high, delivering a cathartic victory over a side that, like United, we somehow manage to always come up short against.

But Friday under the lights it was finally different. The big guns stepped up, Emery was scowling then beaming, and the Villa Park faithful were deservedly delirious. When the coat came off you knew it was over.

I’d not given much thought to the game because too much was riding on it. When the fixtures were released, you’d have hoped things would’ve been decided before the final two installments. And they should’ve been. But somehow Villa managed to advance in Europe while stagnating in the league, squandering the buffer they’d amassed and just about hanging on. Then Liverpool came calling. You’d be forgiven for expecting more heartbreak.

But Villa flipped the script. They stuck to the plan, weathered a first half where they started brightly then saw Liverpool assert growing control. Kept at it and grabbed the lead almost out of nowhere, regathered themselves after getting pulled back, and showed the vastly more expensively assembled guests what heart looks like.

No final-day drama, no looking for help. And now Villa can go play for silverware without the weight of qualification hanging over them.

Emery played his strongest available side and it turned out to be the right call. Given I hadn’t really thought about it, I wasn’t surprised. Take the chance in front of you. When Rogers, who’d been so far off it, found himself and calmly stroked home the opener, well…It’s why you stick with players.

So Villa went out, notched a memorable victory, buoyed their self-belief, and now look to round out a season with a major trophy. Despite all the wobbles and injuries.

Naturally we know it’s largely all down to Emery. However he’s maddened us at times, look where we are. Look at the squad, the lack of depth. The budget with which it’s been assembled. The stalwarts like McGinn, Watkins, and Konsa out there vindicating Deano. Indeed, the only real stain in recent history was Purslow doing Dean dirty and bringing in little Steven. But then, we wouldn’t have Emery.

We also have to credit the players, however much we might find some of them wanting. They’ve taken it all on board and given everything they have. I’m not sure they can believe what they’ve accomplished. But this year, when the chips were down, they’ve produced their two best performances. They just might’ve turned that corner in their own minds.

Obviously we haven’t won anything yet, but we’ve shown we’re not going away and, perhaps more important, secured vital extra income and gloss. Emery has put his stamp on Villa, bucking the restraints and narratives. He’s taken what he had and made it better. There are obviously conversations to come, but for now, Istanbul is all that matters, and that warm glow we feel having beaten a famous nemesis to book our return to the world’s biggest stage.

It’s all rather remarkable.

Over to you.