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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: PA)

Aston Villa failed to triumph over 10-man Ipswich on the weekend as injuries continue to pile up for Unai Emery ahead of their clash against Liverpool on Wednesday.

The Villains had a request to move the game rejected by the Premier League, as a depleted squad looks ahead to four matches across nine days in the League and FA Cup.

Liverpool faces the same dilemma after progressing to the Carabao Cup final, facing four fixtures, including the trip to Villa Park, in 18 days, double the time Villa has.



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The congested fixture list has caused many injury problems to Villa’s squad, and with one eye on the Champions League, Emery would be unlikely to rush players back to fitness.

Ollie Watkins was a welcome addition to the most recent matchday squad, but Ezri Konsa, Amadou Onana and Leon Bailey were among the names added to a growing list of players with fitness problems.

Boubacar Kamara was forced off in the 16th minute against Ipswich after a short stint as a makeshift centre-back, Emery said: “I think it is not a lot”, but Villains will be waiting with baited breath to see if he is fit enough to face table toppers Liverpool.

Villa’s ailing defence is also missing English international Konsa, who has been injured since an FA Cup clash with Tottenham.

Konsa is in individual training but the fixture on Wednesday night seems unlikely.

This means Tyrone Mings, himself coming back from injury, will likely be paired with Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi on Wednesday night, as Pau Torres and Matty Cash also remain sidelined.

The effects of the limited defensive resources are that Villa have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous seven games.

Torres, a stalwart for the Villains this season, has been ruled out since January with a serious ankle injury.

Polish international Cash is forced out of Wednesday’s fixture due to an unspecified muscle issue.

A thigh injury has forced summer singing Onana to only feature for 45 minutes across Villa’s last four fixtures.

Emery said he “still has a lot of work to do” but featuring against Liverpool is “unlikely”.

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Elsewhere Jamaican winger Bailey was ruled out of the squad for the 1-1 draw to Ipswich, with a small injury.

The Villa boss is hopeful he is available to face the Reds on Wednesday night.

Attacking wise, the Villains still have strength in depth, January arrivals of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio have bolstered a side that has scored eight in their previous five fixtures.

The final absentee is Ross Barkley, who has missed the last seven games with a calf issue.

Emery has yet to offer a fitness update on the Scouser, making it highly likely that he will miss the clash against Liverpool.


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