News about Aston Villa: Emery might use an underrated £18 million gem
Release the teenage wonder from Aston Villa who might destroy Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Despite losing to Newcastle United 5-1 in their inaugural Premier League match, Aston Villa has had a respectable start to the 2023–24 season.
If they replicate their performances from last year, Unai Emery’s team might threaten the top six while possibly following West Ham United’s lead and winning the Europa Conference League.
The Midlands outfit face Liverpool away this afternoon, and given that the Reds aren’t at their flamboyant best, Emery’s men could come out on top.
Who has excelled for Aston Villa this season?
So far in the Premier League, new signing Moussa Diaby has been particularly impressive, achieving a solid Sofascore rating of 7.63 across three matches, while he is ranked first across the squad for goals and assists (three), shots on target per game (1.7), and big chances created (three), indicating that he is beginning to justify the club record £51.9m fee they splashed out on him.
Ollie Watkins is another who has begun the season brightly, scoring a hat-trick in their 5-0 win over Hibs in the first leg at Easter Road, and although he is yet to net in the league, the striker ranks third for shots per game (2.7) and first for key passes per game (2.3), proving that he is doing everything to get off the mark while creating chances for others.
Could Emery give youngster Jhon Duran a chance against Jurgen Klopp’s men this afternoon and give Watkins a rest following his recent exertions?
Will Jhon Duran start for Aston Villa vs Liverpool?
Villa signed the Colombian striker for a fee in the region of £18m in January from Chicago Fire as Emery looked to assert his own authority on the squad by adding some young talent to their ranks.
He got the job after scoring eight goals and netting five assists in the MLS, and while he didn’t score for Villa during the second half of the 2022/23 season, he still showed flashes of his immense skill.
So far this season, the young wonder has scored once in the Premier League while winning 100% of his attempted dribbles and 100% of his ground duels, while only playing 13 minutes a game.
The forward, who is still only 19, has already made five appearances for Colombia, scoring once, and he may certainly give Emery something different when leading the line against Liverpool.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig described the child as “powerful” and a “aerial threat,” as well as a “counter-attacking weapon,” which might give Emery the green light to start him.
Virgil Van Dijk is suspended for the match, which might leave the Reds vulnerable at the back. Duran’s pace is a significant weapon, and if given the chance, the teen gem may demolish them.
It marks a tremendous opportunity for Villa to stake a claim as a squad capable of challenging for the top six this season, and starting the Colombian might throw a wrench in Klopp’s plans.
