Dean Smith has done some impressive summer business at Aston Villa this summer.
The Villans survived by the skin of their teeth last season and from the looks of their summer business, they are determined not to be in a dogfight come the final day this time around.
One problem last year was a lack of goals but Ollie Watkins has been brought in from Brentford to rectify that.
Watkins and Smith worked together in west London, but the Villa boss said that his squad has been surprised by how good the hitman is after seeing him up close.
“He gives us a different dimension,” Smith said of Watkins in his pre-match press conference before facing Liverpool this weekend..
“I was having a chat with Jack Grealish the other day and he said the players knew he was good player, but they didn’t know just how good he was.
“He’s certainly surprised a few of them.”
Watkins brings a pace and directness to the Villa frontline which was lacking last season.
Liverpool will be tough to beat but that pace gives Villa a chance to exploit Jurgen Klopp’s high line.
Last season, Villa didn’t play too badly against the Reds. They were only beaten 2-1 very late on at Villa Park and were well-organised in the 2-0 loss at Anfield post-lockdown.
Having boosted the quality of his squad, Smith may well have hopes of getting a result against the reigning champions this weekend.
It won’t be easy, but the threat of Watkins boosts Villa’s chances.
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