Emery Delighted with Villa’s Poise under Pressure in Comeback Win over Everton

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters
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Emery Delighted with Villa’s Poise under Pressure in Comeback Win over Everton

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters

A confident Aston Villa remained patient and made no changes in their game plan after going 2-0 down to Everton, manager Unai Emery said after his side pulled off a 3-2 victory at home in the Premier League on Saturday.

Emery, who last season led Villa to their first top-four finish in the league since 1995-96, was happy with his players' response under pressure, as Ollie Watkins scored a brace and substitute Jhon Duran sealed the win with a long range left-footer.

"Losing 2-0, we were playing well and we were dominating, imposing our positioning and creating chances. We didn´t score and we conceded two opportunities to them and they scored," he told reporters.

"The supporters were really, really understanding of how we could come back the result by being patient, playing with our structure and not changing anything."

The former Arsenal and Paris St Germain manager said Colombia forward Duran, who has come off the bench to score the decisive goal for Villa in three out of four league games this season, has a habit of scoring spectacular long-rangers.

"Jhon Duran did it last year. I remember a goal against Liverpool and Ajax. His shooting is fantastic... when he is trying, we have confidence that he can score a goal like that," Emery said.

The Spaniard also praised Watkins, who found the net for the first time in this campaign.

"We have to be proud of our two strikers," Emery added.

Villa will play their first European top-tier match since 1983 on Tuesday, when they visit Swiss side BSC Young Boys to kick off their Champions League campaign.



Liverpool ‘Not up to Standard’ Slot Says after Shock Defeat to Nottingham Forest

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest (L) celebrates scoring the 0-1 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, Britain, 14 September 2024. (EPA)
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest (L) celebrates scoring the 0-1 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, Britain, 14 September 2024. (EPA)
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Liverpool ‘Not up to Standard’ Slot Says after Shock Defeat to Nottingham Forest

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest (L) celebrates scoring the 0-1 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, Britain, 14 September 2024. (EPA)
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest (L) celebrates scoring the 0-1 goal during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, Britain, 14 September 2024. (EPA)

All good things come to an end. Few expected Liverpool’s good thing to end on Saturday.

An uncommon perfect run of three wins to start the English Premier League without conceding a goal came to a stunning end at Anfield where Nottingham Forest won for the first time since 1969.

Forest had 30% possession, three shots on target — all after halftime — and only two corners but Callum Hudson-Odoi curled a shot beyond the reach of Alisson in the 72nd minute and it held up in a 1-0 win.

Liverpool’s effort was scrappy as passes went astray and touches were often missed. The players looked like they hadn’t seen each other for two weeks.

The international break took away 10 players but manager Arne Slot said that was no excuse.

“It’s always difficult, but I don’t think it had anything to do with it,” Slot said.

“Players came back strong and I saw today a team that wanted to fight until the end. That wasn’t to do with energy.

“If you look at the goals we scored until now, we scored quite a few from transition moments from winning the ball back, but the other team (Forest) played over our press a lot with a lot of long balls.

“Too many individual performances in ball possession were not up to the standards that I’m used to from these players.”

Liverpool’s best chance was its first when Luis Diaz shot against the near post and the ball ricocheted across the face of the goal.

The amount of possession Liverpool had made the result that much more pitiful for Slot.

“We had a lot of ball possession but only managed to create three or four quite good chances. That’s by far not enough.

“If you have so much possession and play so much in their half we need to be much better. We lost the ball so many times in simple situations.

“It is a big setback. If you lose a home game that’s always a setback.”