Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE: Team news with Salah set to return for battle to secure Champions League place – UK Times

“That’s one of the reasons why we’re in the position we are in, and what I mean with that is we wanted to be higher or doing better this season. But we’ve dropped far too many points in away games,” said the Liverpool boss when asked why Liverpool’s form away from home has been poor.

“And as I said, that’s maybe always happening in the end of the season, you constantly feel you are telling everyone the same things. But dropping points in away games has mainly happened after playing in Europe, in games where usually Liverpool is able to win.

“Now Villa away doesn’t matter if you play it after a game in Europe or after a week of rest, because this will always be a difficult game.”

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Gakpo, Gravenberch, Ngumoha

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers, Watkins, Buendia

More from Emery who spoke about the atmosphere he is expecting from the Aston Villa supporters.

“It’s a fantastic match,” said Villa’s boss. “I’m very motivated and excited, looking forward to the test as a team and as individuals.

“In Villa Park we will try to create a great atmosphere. Our supporters must be with us, and it should be a very good day.

“It was a special day when we were playing for the first time at home in a semi-final second leg. We needed them and they showed us their wishes to be with us, creating this atmosphere.

“Now, it’s the league, and our consistency makes sense when our supporters are helping us and supporting us.”

“We are with the same points as them, and that’s something fantastic and something that we must be so proud of,” Unai Emery said of Aston Villa’s performance in the league this year.

“Now it’s about how we can test ourselves, playing against them.

“Liverpool has a fantastic coach, fantastic players. Maybe they’re not being consistent like they were last year, but they’re still a fantastic team, players and coach.

“To play tomorrow against them on day 37 in Villa Park with 59 points is something amazing.”

The midfielder has made just four Premier League appearances since joining Villa on a season-long loan from Liverpool.

Villa would have had an obligation to buy had the 23-year-old played 10 times in the league.

“They [Villa] played Sunday, I think, so now we play on Friday, so I don’t see being tired as a reason,” Arne Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“I think one of the reasons why they are in the final of the Europa League and doing so well in the Premier League is because they have a big squad with many, many very good players and a lot of players that are of the same level, same high level.

“If you don’t have that, you’re not able to go all the way to the final in the Europa League and do so well in the Premier League.

“And the good thing for them is that, at the moment, they have one or two injuries but not so many. So, I think they are completely ready to go into Friday to go into Wednesday and then go into Sunday.”

Both teams come into this match sitting on 59 points with two matches left to play.

Liverpool have a +12 goal difference compared to Aston Villa’s +4.

Should Villa win tonight they would cut that deficit by at least one and would jump up to fourth in the table securing them a place in the Champions League next year.

Liverpool, who currently sit fourth, will also confirm their spot in the European top flight with a win.

Midfielder Elliott made the temporary switch to Villa Park at the end of last summer’s transfer window, on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy conditional on appearances made.

“Everything is very important and in the process we are [in] each game is very important,” Unai Emery said about the prospect of ending the season on a high with Aston Villa.

“But now we are getting to the end of the season with the target so, so close – the highest target we expected at the beginning.

“To finish the season in the top five is really something fantastic.”