‘They have to’: Unai Emery makes Liverpool and Chelsea claim as Aston Villa push for Europe

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and 11th-placed Chelsea ‘have to’ finish in a European place this season.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea, who re-appointed Frank Lampard as their manager until the end of the season, are below Villa in the Premier League table.

Not many would have predicted that at the start of the season or when the Midlands outfit sacked Steven Gerrard in October and replaced him with Unai Emery.

At the time, Villa were just hovering above the Premier League’s relegation zone on goal difference only, yet fast forward to the present and they are in with an outside chance of a Champions League.

Whilst the latter won’t happen, there is still every chance that they can secure some sort of European football for next term, and if they do, it might well be at the expense of Liverpool and Chelsea.

Previously, Emery has played down Villa’s hopes of finishing in the top seven, but after their late win at Leicester on Tuesday night, he is starting to change his mind, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.

“First, we have to be consistent now in the top 10,” said Emery. ” Of course, with those victories, we have added six points to the table.

“Now, we can add another step ahead in thinking to be a candidate to be in the European position. But it’s going to be very difficult because of Brighton and Brentford – they’re playing very well. We’re now with them.

“Chelsea and Liverpool as well, they have to be in Europe next year and we have to fight with them to be in Europe. They will react as well. We can have ambition and motivation to try to be a candidate.”

VILLA’S CHANCE FOR EUROPE

With a striker like Ollie Watkins bang in form, including scoring in six away games on the bounce – no player has done that since Sergio Aguero in 2017 – then Villa have every chance for Europe.

Added to that, they play everyone else in the top ten, other than Arsenal and Manchester City, from now until May, so if they can beat those teams around them, then those wins will feel more valuable.

But, before any of that can happen, they have to take things step by step, including their home clash against relegation-strugglers Nottingham Forest on Saturday.