Liverpool's stunning 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa has turned what should have been a celebratory final day at Anfield into a nerve-wracking must-win scenario. Instead of a simple farewell to legends Mo Salah and Andy Robertson, the Reds now head into their clash with Brentford needing to secure Champions League football—and the pressure is palpable.

Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton didn't hold back in his assessment of the collapse at Villa Park. Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Houghton admitted he expected a much stronger response after the disappointing 1-1 draw with Chelsea. "I was really looking for a response from the players," he said. "When they got back to 1-1 at the start of the second half, you thought they could kick on and win this."

Virgil van Dijk had leveled the score, and Rio Ngumoha even hit the post, giving fans a fleeting hope that Arne Slot's side might take control. But then Dominik Szoboszlai slipped, Ollie Watkins scored, and the game slipped away far too quickly. "The worry for the manager will certainly be going 2-1 down and then they crumbled," Houghton added.

That word—crumbled—stings, especially given Liverpool's defensive struggles. They've conceded 52 Premier League goals this season, with only five teams letting in more. John Aldridge was "flabbergasted" by how easily opponents have carved them open, while Andy Robertson admitted the Villa performance was "a long way short of the levels of this club."

Now, with Salah and Robertson set to depart, Houghton believes the squad owes them a proper send-off. "The players owe them two, when you look at what they've done for the club," he said. Liverpool need not just a result against Brentford, but a display of pride and fight—something that's been missing far too often this season.