Unai Emery makes ‘huge’ Liverpool admission after Aston Villa stumble again in Champions League race

Aston Villa lost 2-0 at Molineux on Friday as its alarming downward spiral continues, which is good news for Liverpool, though, in the race for the top five places

Unai Emery has discussed the race for the Champions League places after Aston Villa's latest defeat

Unai Emery has admitted it will be difficult for Aston Villa to stave off competition from Liverpool and the other top-five contenders after the Villains suffered a shock defeat to bottom-place Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.

Villa has occupied third place in the table for several months and held a 10-point gap over Liverpool in late January, but a significant downturn in results has seen the Midlands club’s hopes of a title race turn to fears over its place in the Champions League positions.

Should Liverpool win against West Ham United on Saturday, the gap to Villa will be reduced to three points, while Manchester United could move into third this weekend. With Chelsea also in the race, Emery admitted after the loss at Molineux that his side faces stiff competition to gain a top-five place.

“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 December, I was so happy and excited to get the top-five position and achieve the Champions League.

Emery has revealed his frustration at Villa's current plight(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)

“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.”

Speaking separately to Villa’s club media channels, Emery seemed to imply the need for Liverpool, United and Chelsea to clinch a Champions League place is greater than his side’s.

“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,” said the former Arsenal manager.

“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.”

Liverpool could close the gap to Villa with a win on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)

Villa faces Chelsea and United in its next two matches, which could prove pivotal in the top-five race.

The Villans won 12 of 13 league games across the autumn months - the exception being November’s trip to Anfield - but have won just three of the last 10.

That’s in contrast to Liverpool, with the Reds suffering a run of nine defeats in 12 earlier this season, but have lost just two of the last 20 in all competitions.