Emery on form, Elliot loan and 'test' against the champions
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Villa Park (kick-off 20:00 BST). Here are the key lines from his news conference: Emery confirmed there is no fresh team news for Villa with the same three absentees still unavailable - Amadou Onana, Alysson and Boubacar Kamara. Villa have won just three of their past 13 Premier League games but Emery is "proud" of how far his side have competed all season: "The reason [for the drop in form], we must analyse deeply at the end of the season.
But my objective is to compete in different competitions at our best level and to have enough players, enough mentality to play and fight in the Premier League with the best teams and try to get our best position like we are doing. " He continued: "The best teams in the world are becoming [the best] when they can get consistency in different competitions, performing and being competitive, and we are doing that. " Emery said the they need to look at their "overall" campaign and how they have beaten the likes of Tottenham , Newcastle and Chelsea to their current position in the Premier League table.
The Spaniard called Harvey Elliot's loan spell " embarrassing for everyone involved" , after Liverpool boss Arne Slot confirmed the winger will return to the club for pre-season in his news conference on Thursday. He added: "To now explain about the reason for this decision is very difficult, or it is easy, but it is not the moment. My apologies for Harvey Elliott are, every day, in my mind.
We have our responsibility and Liverpool have their responsibility and, of course, it's something as a human and as a person, how the season has gone for him has been difficult. " On facing Liverpool: "We are playing one team - the favourite and contender from the beginning, to be clear, because last year they won the Premier League. Of course, it's something fantastic and something we must be so proud of.
" He continued: "And now it's how we can test ourselves, playing against them, how we are testing with them because, of course, Liverpool, they have fantastic coach, fantastic players. Maybe they are not being consistent this year like they were last year, but they've still been a fantastic team and players and coach, and it's Liverpool. " Got a question about Villa?