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What Vidagany did after full-time speaks volumes and the two reasons why Villa left Anfield frustrated
Aston Villa have suffered consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time since April 2023 after losing to Liverpool following a defeat to Tottenham last weekend.
Defeats to Crystal Palace and Club Brugge since dropping two points against Bournemouth a fortnight ago compound what has been the worst run of form under Unai Emery since he took control of the club two years ago.
Facing Premier League and Champions League leaders Liverpool is a daunting prospect for any side right now, but Villa competed well and gave a good account of themselves. Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the 20th minute, before Mohamed Salah made sure of the points for the Reds late on.
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Here are the talking points after Villa's defeat...
VILLA IN A SLUMP NOT A CRISIS
It can be easy to see four defeats on the spin and spring to the conclusions that Villa are now incapable of achieving the objectives set out at the start of the season. But after beating Fulham just three weeks ago, Villa had made their best start to a Premier League season in 26 years.
The Carabao Cup was unfortunately at the bottom of Villa's list of priorities this season and they bowed out to Crystal Palace at home. Emery decided to keep Jacob Ramsey and Matty Cash on the bench and instead bring on three youngsters when Villa needed a goal. That said everything about how the club valued that competition compared to the Premier League and Champions League.
Villa were leading against Tottenham for 45 minutes and went into half-time frustrated that they hadn't doubled their advantage through Ollie Watkins. They were poor in the second period and then failed to rectify Tyrone Mings' bizarre mistake against Club Brugge when he picked the ball up to concede a penalty.
Then, a trip to Anfield awaited. Liverpool have now won 15 of their 17 matches under Arne Slot and are arguably currently the best side in Europe considering they've won all four of their Champions League league phase matches too.
Villa are in a slump, but this is no crisis. Forget where they are in the table right now, it is irrelevant on November 10. They've collected four less points than last season and clearly there has been a drop off in performance levels, but ahead of a home clash against Crystal Palace after the break, there will be no panic at Bodymoor Heath over the international break.
TWO MAIN REASONS FOR FRUSTRATION
On another day Villa would've left Anfield with something to show for their performance. Mistakes were to blame for the two goals they conceded, while referee David Coote should have awarded Emery's side with at least one penalty.
Ibrahima Konate bundled Ollie Watkins over in the box in the first half, before Pau Torres was pulled back in the box as Lucas Digne's delivery from a free-kick floated towards him.
Coote said no penalty and VAR backed his decision. Emery was rightly furious on the touchline and insisted it was a clear penalty in his post-match press conference. As always, he said he respected the officials and VAR.
After full-time, Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany was seen pulling on Torres' shirt as he gestured to the match officials that they should have been awarded a spot-kick at what was a crucial period in the match.
Even after their penalty claims were waved away, Villa had three big chances to level the match. Amadou Onana and Diego Carlos both saw headers saved by Caoimhin Kelleher in the first half, before Morgan Rogers passed up on a golden opportunity just after the break.
Villa got into some dangerous areas against Liverpool, but their final ball was lacking. That would have been a real frustration for the players and Emery when leaving Anfield last night.
EMERY: VILLA ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Villa manager Emery was encouraged and enthused by what he had seen at Liverpool, claiming that his side are on track to return to the level they showed last season.
"We performed like we planned to before the game," he said on Match of the Day. "Of course the result is not good, but we have to keep consistent in our structure, how we play and responding to things in the game.
"We had chances to score, maybe one potential penalty at the end, which I think with VAR was a penalty, but OK we have to accept the decisions of the referee.
"When they scored the second goal the match more or less was finished, but until that second goal we had chances to score. We were good defensively, we were patient and we felt comfortable even when they dominated the ball. We have to try and keep to our process and I think in some areas we are under our level of last year."
He added: "Against Tottenham we played 70 good minutes and in 20 minutes we lost it. The defeat was more than we deserve. Today we kept our structure, did not concede too many chances, and we were getting in their box with the transitions.
"We were not clinical in the attacking third but we are building the team and performances. It was not enough to get points here but I am positive that we are moving forward. Of course we have to improve but we are in the right way."
CLARET & BLUE CATCH-UP
