Aston Villa’s 2-0 loss to Wolves means that Liverpool can close the gap in the race for a Premier League top-five finish.
Unai Emery is wary that Liverpool are on the hunt in the race for Champions League qualification after Aston Villa dropped more points.
Villa suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of basement side Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Friday night. It means that Emery’s side, who are third in the table, have won just one of their past five Premier League games. They are feeling the impact of being without three key midfielders; captain John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara, who are all injured.
Liverpool, who sit sixth, have a chance to move within three points of Villa should they earn victory over West Ham United at Anfield. And Emery knows that the chasing pack of the Reds, Manchester United and Chelsea are all trying to dislodge Villa.
He said via BBC Sport: "We are losing the opportunity to win the title in the Premier League, two months ago we were competing with Arsenal and Manchester City, you were asking me about it," he said.
"Someone, even myself, may say 'maybe we can'. Some supporters, maybe they were dreaming it. Now we are not with the possibility to fight for the Premier League, some can feel frustrated, even myself because I have my dreams.
"In September I was worried and the objective was to stay in the Premier League. In December I was so happy and excited to get the top-five position and achieve the Champions League.
"One month ago I was dreaming about maybe winning the Premier League. Now we are in the average to be in the top five. Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, they are trying to get to us, for them it is a priority to get into the Champions League."
Emery continued via Villa’s official website: “I am so motivated, so excited about how we are in the Premier League in matchday 28.
“At the beginning we weren’t favourites, we weren’t contenders, and we’re fighting with those great teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool.
“They have huge power and they need to be in our position, it’s their target clearly. But we are competing fantastic, we are being consistent, even now when we are losing here, we must react and we must as well tell our supporters we need them and we must be together.
“We must achieve our objectives creating a great atmosphere in Villa Park, a great atmosphere here because they were here with us. And, as well, trying to support the players, help the players and again recover our good form, good mood.
“I am being positive because we are in the average but, of course, we must continue analysing, being so, so demanding how we can improve things and recover again our confidence.
“We have two competitions, really motivated, Europa League and Premier League and we are in a very good position to try to enjoy the way we’re doing.”
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