Unai Emery has fired a confident warning ahead of Aston Villa’s crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool on Friday night, openly stating he is “excited” to face Arne Slot’s struggling side. Despite his team dropping points in a 2-2 draw at Burnley on Sunday, the former Arsenal manager radiated belief about the upcoming encounter at Villa Park.
Emery’s optimism reflects the shifting perception surrounding Liverpool after their frustrating 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Anfield. Speaking after Villa’s draw at Turf Moor, the 54-year-old made it clear he sees Friday as a golden opportunity. “I am so motivated, so excited for the match on Friday against Liverpool,” he said via the club’s official website.
The Spaniard then added a comment sure to unsettle Liverpool supporters: “We are going to test against them as well in Villa Park, which team is – in this moment – better than the other in the table.” Villa and Liverpool currently sit level on points, though the Reds still hold a slight edge in the Champions League qualification race.
Emery repeatedly praised his side’s mentality despite their demanding Europa League schedule, explaining: “We deserved more, we deserved to win.”
What stands out most is the lack of fear surrounding Liverpool right now. Chelsea’s Levi Colwill claimed his team deserved all three points after Saturday’s draw, while Villa’s Ollie Watkins warned Liverpool that his side “always make life difficult for us at Villa Park.” That growing confidence reflects how passive Slot’s side has become in recent months. Liverpool controlled spells early against Chelsea before retreating into a slower, reactive style that frustrated home fans.
The Reds still boast a strong recent record at Villa Park, losing just once in 11 league visits since 2011, with the last two meetings ending level. However, form and momentum currently feel more important than history. Villa head into Friday’s clash energized by a Europa League final appearance, believing they can expose Liverpool’s weaknesses just as Chelsea did at Anfield.
