Amadou Onana will miss Aston Villa's final home game of the Premier League season against Liverpool after Unai Emery confirmed the Belgian is sidelined with a calf injury
14:50, 14 May 2026
Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana
Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed that Amadou Onana and Alysson will both be absent for the final home fixture of the campaign against Liverpool.
Former Everton midfielder Onana picked up a calf problem in the opening period of Villa's Europa League semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.
Following the 2–2 stalemate with Burnley, Emery disclosed that the Belgian midfielder was anticipated to be sidelined for up to three weeks, suggesting it could be uncertain whether he recuperates in time for the Europa League final. "We have the same players out," Emery stated in his Liverpool pre-match press conference, where he apologized to Harvey Elliott.
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"Amadou Onana is not available for tomorrow and Alysson as well. Kamara is out. Other players, at the beginning, should be ready to play tomorrow."
Discussing the encounter with Liverpool, Emery said: "Everything is very important and in the process we are in, each game is very important. Now we are at the end of the season, with the highest challenge we expected at the beginning to finish the season with. The top five would be something fantastic.", reports Birmingham Live.
"Tomorrow we are playing one team who were a favourite to win the league after winning it last season, fighting with Arsenal and Man City. We have the same points as them and we must be so proud of it.
"Now it's about how we can test ourselves against them. Liverpool have a fantastic coach and have fantastic players. They are not being consistent like before, but they are still a fantastic team. It is Liverpool.
"Playing against them at Villa Park in the day 37 with 59 points, and trying to test us against them is something amazing."
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery(Image: DARREN STAPLES, AFP via Getty Images)
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Emery also issued an apology to Elliott over his situation at Villa Park, having featured in just a handful of games since joining on loan from Liverpool. Villa would have paid £35 million ($47 million) had he clocked up 10 Premier League appearances, but that has not been the case.
"To now explain about the reason for this decision is very difficult, or it is easy, but it is not the moment," Emery said. "Of course, it is something embarrassing for everyone involved.
"My apologies for Harvey Elliott is every day in my mind. But it is [about] responsibility. We have our responsibility and Liverpool have their responsibility. It is something, as a human and as a person, how the season has gone has been difficult."