Unai Emery must now take a significant chance by starting the “erratic” Aston Villa star against Liverpool.
A victory for Aston Villa against Liverpool at Villa Park on Monday night would guarantee them a place in next season’s Champions League. Despite recent setbacks, including losses to Brighton in the league and Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League, Villa remains determined. Their recent fatigue may be a concern, but with just three points needed to secure their Champions League berth, manager Unai Emery may introduce a fresh player to bolster their chances against Liverpool.
Despite his impressive season, where he’s scored 19 league goals and provided 12 assists without taking penalties, Watkins has struggled in recent matches. Pairing him with the energetic Duran could reignite his form. Duran, who has started nine games this season and scored six goals, possesses immense potential but lacks polish. Despite being labeled as ‘erratic’, his unpredictability, demonstrated by winning a recent penalty off the bench, could be valuable against Klopp’s side. Emery may need to adjust the lineup to accommodate Duran, possibly replacing Cash, who has been underperforming in recent outings.