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Liverpool travel to Villa Park tonight (19:30 GMT) with a chance to extend their Premier League lead to 10 points over Arsenal, albeit having played an extra game.

For Aston Villa, languishing in eighth, a win could reignite faint European hopes, but Unai Emery’s side face an uphill battle against a Reds team unbeaten in 14 away league matches this season.

Villa’s Injury Crisis:

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Speaking ahead of the game, Unai Emery had some interesting things to say about Mohamed Salah, suggesting that Marcus Rashford and even Macro Asensio have historically reached the levels the Egyptian has this season:

“His career has been amazing – I think he’s playing his best football

He’s hitting huge numbers, scoring goals and assists, gaining confidence,” the Spaniard began via the Birmingham Mail.

“When his team-mates have a player like him, everyone is more comfortable

Salah is unique

He’s feeling comfortable – playing in his best moment.”

“In the past, Marcus has done it at that level

Salah is someone who assists and scores goals more than anyone else.”

Mohamed Salah has redefined elite productivity in the Premier League, averaging 0.67 goals per game across 288 appearances for Liverpool, with 180 goals and 83 assists.

Even in his statistically weakest seasons, such as 2023/24, Salah recorded 19 goals and 10 assists in the league—numbers that eclipse Rashford’s career-best campaign (17 goals, 7 assists in 2022/23) and Asensio’s peak at Real Madrid (10 goals, 0 assists in 2021/22).

His “worst” seasons would rank as career-defining for most attackers, rendering comparisons to Rashford’s folly.

While Villa’s signings may improve, equating their potential to Salah’s established genius overlooks a decade of data.

Until Rashford or Asensio consistently breach 30+ G/A seasons—a feat Salah has achieved six times— Emery can say whatever he likes but it will not be a reflection of reality.

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