Ollie Watkins cut a frustrated figure during Aston Villa’s loss to Liverpool, but the striker should be boosted by a return this week.
In his five full Premier League seasons, the England international has scored at least 10 goals.
So far in 2025/26, however, the Aston Villa forward has netted just once in 14 matches across all competitions.
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Wayne Rooney has questioned Unai Emery’s use of Watkins and the main problem the attacker is facing was on full display during the Liverpool defeat.
Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring for Aston Villa against Fulham
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins struggling
Ignoring their insistence on trying to play out from the back instead of exposing Liverpool’s main weakness, long balls, Villa’s attacking play, specifically around Watkins, was frustrating to watch.
The 29-year-old made countless runs through the middle, but the players around him, for whatever reason, decided against slipping him in.
Whether he would have scored every chance remains to be seen, but there’s no question the service to Watkins has been poor of late.
His confidence is low, but the lack of opportunities he is being given is not helping at all.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins vs Liverpool in the Premier League
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Youri Tielemans can help Ollie Watkins thrive
Thankfully, Villa’s creativity should improve once Youri Tielemans returns to training this week.
The 28-year-old has featured on just four occasions across all competitions this season due to a calf issue.
Tielemans is excellent at linking defence and attack with his line-splitting through balls, and had he been fit this term, Watkins’ goal tally would probably be higher.
In 2024/25, no player, barring the goalkeeper, covered more distance (10244 yards) with progressive passes than Tielemans.
The Belgian’s 235 progressive passes were also nearly double that of any other Villa player in the Premier League last term. Morgan Rogers was second with 123.
Thankfully, Emery recently confirmed that the former Leicester City man was due to return to training this week.
He said: “Youri is progressing well. He is going to start training, hopefully next week, with the group.”