Unai Emery has no choice but to axe Aston Villa starter – he was horrendous in Liverpool loss
Unai Emery will want to forget Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool in a hurry.
Villa travelled to Anfield hoping to extend the Reds’ miserable run, but instead, it was their decent run that was ended.
Emery was hoping to make it a fifth straight Premier League victory, but it was not to be on a tough night on Merseyside on 1 November.
The Spaniard will now have to ponder his team selection for the next match, the Europa League clash with Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Unai Emery has obvious Lucas Digne decision for Maccabi game
Villa’s clash with the Israeli side has already proven controversial, after away fans were banned from attending the fixture.
Emery could be forced into a contentious call in terms of his starting line-up when the two sides meet, after the defeat to the Reds.
Lucas Digne was one of the worst players on the pitch for the Villans, and he was constantly torn apart by a resurgent Mohamed Salah in a horrendous showing.
The Egyptian winger is regarded as one of the best in world football when he is one form, but he had scored just once in the last five matches before the clash.
Digne had a dismal evening as he won just two of six ground duels that he attempted, for a 33 per cent success rate, per Sofascore.
He was also dribbled past twice and lost possession six times, and also made no interceptions in the contest.
In terms of attacking threat, the French defender completed 84 per cent of his general passes, but failed to hit a Villa man with any of the two crosses that he tried.
He was accurate with just one of the three long passes that he attempted, which gave him a 33 per cent success rate.
Ian Maatsen could be the solution for Aston Villa
Ian Maatsen replaced the 32-year-old in the 75th minute, and there was a marked improvement on the left side of defence.
The ex-Chelsea man made Emery’s side look more solid, and now the manager has a dilemma for his selection against Maccabi.
He may well choose the 23-year-old to start next time out, as Digne was one of the weakest links against the Reds.
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