Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, says his team has to be ready to face the best team in the Premier League and Europe when the leaders Liverpool come to Villa Park on Wednesday evening.
The villa fell six points behind the top 4 after moving to Ipswich at home at the weekend. Emery said that a return to the Champions League remains.
New obligations Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio could both occur while Emery is fighting with injury problems in defense.
He said: “For me as a coach Liverpool, a big challenge is a challenge how we can create our game plan together against you. It is the most difficult match that we will play in the past few weeks and months.
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“Liverpool is the best team in the Premier League and in Europe. Our challenge is how we face you and react with our qualities and how we play at this level.
“We are excited and hopefully we can share our excited moments with our fans in Villa Park.”
Villa won only one of her last 14 Premier League games against Liverpool, although a 7-2 victory in Villa Park in October 2020.
A repetition – or three points, Villa would bring in a race in a race anyway, which is probably back in the wire.
“We are positive, but we are excited and step in the right direction,” said Emery.
“We need more points in the event that we want to achieve the greatest demand and goals that we can have, namely in the Champions League.”
Team messages
Midfielder/defender Boubacar Kamara is over after he went against Ipswich early, while Villa was able to include striker Leon Bailey and the defender Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash in the squad.
Emery on Kamara: “He was ready to play with a problem in the back, but the injury did not come from his back, it is his knee tendon. He tries to analyze a lot and meet with the doctors and physios and how we can get better. Exactly why is it difficult. “
At Tyrone Mings’ return of injuries: “Mings is a very important player, his comeback was very good and he plays very well. He had a little stopover in his recovery, but played on Saturday and tomorrow we will provide him. He is a very important player because he is one of the captains and a leader in defense. “