Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery, recently provided an update on the status of midfielder Youri Tielemans. The player was notably absent from the Belgium national team squad for their November Nations League matches due to a minor knee injury.
Despite his omission from the national team, Emery is optimistic that Tielemans will be fit to play in Aston Villa's upcoming match against Liverpool. This comes as good news for Villa fans as Tielemans has been a key player this season, starting all 10 of their Premier League matches and each of the club's four Champions League games.
The international break provides an opportune time for Tielemans to rest and recover from his knee pain. His presence in the midfield will be crucial when they face off against Liverpool on Saturday night.
Aston Villa’s recent struggles
Villa has had a rough patch recently with three consecutive defeats against Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Club Brugge. Their perfect start in the Champions League came to an abrupt end after defender Tyrone Mings mistakenly picked up a live ball in the penalty box during their game against Club Brugge.
On contrast, Liverpool has had an impressive run this season winning 14 out of their first 16 matches across all competitions. Their only losses were against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Premier League fixtures.
Liverpool also boasts a strong record at home against Aston Villa having won five out of their last six encounters at Anfield since 2014. This is quite a turnaround considering they managed just one win between 2009 and 2014 at home versus Villa.
Daunting task ahead for Aston Villa
Historically speaking, it seems like quite a daunting task lies ahead for Aston Villa who have lost 16 of their last 18 Premier League away games against teams that were top of the table at the start of the day. Their only victory in such circumstances came over two decades ago when they beat Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road in January 2000.
While Villa fans will be hopeful for Tielemans' return, they will also be aware of their team's recent struggles and historical difficulties against Liverpool. It remains to be seen whether Emery's side can turn things around and pull off an upset at Anfield.
