Unai Emery warns Aston Villa not to get comfortable ahead of Liverpool test
Unai Emery has warned Villa this is no time to take their foot off the gas as they look to shoot down Liverpool.
Villa head to Anfield on Saturday night hunting a fifth straight Premier League win for only the second time since 1998.
Hosts Liverpool are reeling having lost four straight but Emery, who has seen his team undergo a stunning transformation after themselves struggling in the early weeks of the campaign, has warned against complacency.
He said: “The balance is being consistent but you’re also trying to set your standards as high as possible.
“That’s when you can feel strong. You can feel comfortable. But we’re human and sometimes we relax.
“My responsibility is to identify quickly when we’re getting worse, or relaxing, or being demanding or consistent.
“This is every day - to win against Liverpool is one thing, but the 90 minutes will be the consequence of how we are focused.
“This is one issue, every day, every match, is giving us a lot of information to set us up as soon as possible.”
Emery has failed to beat Liverpool in 12 attempts since claiming victory with Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final but says his poor record against the Reds adds no extra motivation.
“If we will need those three points at the end of the season, then yes of course (there is more incentive),” he said.
“But if we get points in other places, it is not necessary to get three points tomorrow. Tomorrow is one opportunity we have and each match is three points to play for.”
Emi Buendia (foot) will miss the trip to Anfield but Emery is hopeful he could return for next Thursday’s Europa League clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
