📰 Table Of Contents
Aston Villa Team News
- Out: Philippe Coutinho, Jed Steer
- Doubt: N/A
At the time of Unai Emery’s appointment at Villa Park, few – if any – Villa supporters would have dreamt up a scenario where the stories Birmingham-based club would have been within touching distance of the European places going into the final few clashes of the 2022-23 Premier League season. And yet, here they are, under an experienced head in their Spanish tactician, just one point from a top-six place.
What the former Arsenal boss has achieved since his return to England has been nothing short of superb at a club that is a far closer representation of those who has had a wealth of success before, to the point where Emery justifiably is receiving calls to be named manager of the season. But first, a trip to Anfield and a clash with one of the form sides in the table in Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who come into the weekend on the back of seven straight wins and a nine-match undefeated run. Three points would see Villa climb ahead of at least Brighton who just lost handily to Newcastle United on Thursday night, and could even see them move into sixth should Tottenham not retrieve the same point haul at home to Brentford.
Thankfully for Emery, there are no expected changes to his first-choice XI come the weekend thanks to no additional fitness questions. Just Philippe Coutinho and Jed Steer remain out of contention, so expect Emery to name an unchanged XI while keeping faith in the players that have gotten the club within touching distance of a return to Europe for the first time in over a decade.
Predicted Aston Villa XI
