Unai Emery reacts to his Aston Villa team's 2-0 Premier League defeat to defending champions Liverpool at Anfield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield on November 01, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins - AVFC/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, reacts during the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield
View Image
Unai Emery was left to rue ‘huge mistakes’ as Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League against his Aston Villa side on Saturday night. The Reds clinched a 2-0 victory thanks to goals either side of half-time from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch.
The opener was something of a gift as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez passed the ball straight out to Mohamed Salah, who made no mistake as he stroked home into the unguarded net for his 250th goal for the club.
Liverpool should have perhaps already been ahead prior to the landmark goal, though, after Dominik Szoboszlai robbed possession from Pau Torres on the edge of the Villa box only to shoot tamely straight at Martinez.
While the visitors looked to play out from the back, and repeatedly found themselves under pressure from the Reds’ high press, Emery defended his set-up. However, he conceded he was unhappy following the loss.
“I am disappointed with the result,” the Villa boss said. “After we won two matches against Tottenham and Manchester City, we were positive and excited.
“But today we lost because we faced a very good Liverpool side. Even though we lost in the match, we competed very well and with the possibilities to get something.
“The first 30 minutes, we were fantastic, continuing the way we did against Tottenham and Manchester City. We showed our capacity to dominate some times and create chances.
“But the last 15 minutes of the first half we lost some positioning on the field and we were lower than we planned.
“We conceded one goal that was offside but that was good defence but then when the first half was finishing we made a mistake in our build up and they scored.
“The second half started differently, we didn’t dominate but we had time to try and react and come back and get the result.
“We were planning the subs and getting fresh legs and we conceded the second goal and it was more difficult. Not scoring goals and the two goals we conceded was more difficult.
“We need to try to play with personality through our structure and through our roles and take good positioning.
“Pau was getting his position to play with this pass and then through those passes to feel good and in that case lost the ball. Of course, to build in our structure strong and not conceding the chances we conceded.
“It was easy for Salah. It was a huge mistake but one thing in our process under my responsibility. I accept it and we build a team here through the style we want to keep in our process in the club and in the next matches.
“We must avoid huge mistakes like we made today in the first goal we conceded. But it’s something part of our process and we are going to analyse, to identify how we will build in these circumstances for the next matches.
“But of course, through it we are feeling comfortable and strong. The players are getting the level through our position and our idea.”