Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has managed to get his side back into form after a poor start to the season.
The Premier League side started the season in disappointing fashion, even falling into the relegation zone in the first few games.
However, they have improved in recent weeks, winning four consecutive Premier League games and currently level on points with defending champions Liverpool.
Villa and Liverpool both have 15 points this season, and the two teams will face each other in the Premier League this weekend.
Aston Villa will face Liverpool in their next league match
The game at Anfield is expected to be a fierce battle between the Reds, who are looking to get back on track, and Aston Villa, who are looking to maintain their good form.
Ahead of the game at Anfield, Emery and Villa suffered a major setback as to whether they would be able to sign one of their best players.
Attacking midfielder Emi Buendia played in the 1-0 win over Manchester City at Villa Park and will miss the match against Arne Slott’s side.
Buendia’s injury gave Sancho the chance to prove himself, but he was unable to do so, coming on as a substitute but eventually being sent off.
“Certainly he (Sancho) is not happy, but he played 60 minutes on Thursday, as he did previously with Morgan Rodgers, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey.” As reported by Liverpool World, Emery said:
“Today, when he (Buendia) got injured, my plan might have been for him (Sancho) to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes. But my plan was when he was replaced by Emiliano Buendia. The idea was that he probably wouldn’t play the whole game until the last moment. And I told him too, he feels it, it’s embarrassing.”
Jadon Sancho must prove himself at Villa Park
Given his form, losing Buendia would be a huge loss for Emery and Aston Villa.
It’s time for Sancho to step up his game and show why Villa decided to sign him in the summer transfer window.
Now is the time for Sancho to show his mentality and deal positively with recent setbacks.
The former Man United winger is looking to revive his career after failing spells at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa are working towards a deal with the 23-year-old, although negotiations are ‘not that far along’