According to Independent, Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has urged his team to stay focused on reaching the Premier League summit.
If Villa defeats struggling Sheffield United on Friday, they will go to the top and strengthen their title hopes.
If Arsenal and Liverpool draw on Saturday—Emery took over when Villa finished 14th in October of last year—they would still be in the lead come Christmas.
Even though they have defeated Manchester City and Arsenal in their last 15 home league games, Emery is still cautious about the dreadful Blades.
“I have to try to keep the same motivation and the same preparation for the matches as we have been doing. I can remind them and myself of some matches we played before we started winning,” he said, with Villa third, a point behind leaders Arsenal.
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“When we are not playing in our structure and organising our structure with and without the ball, even against the best team or bottom team in the table, we are closer to losing.
“My concern with the players is being consistent, to be consistent preparing the match, to be consistent during the match and focusing on our game plan.
“When we were winning against, more or less, the best teams in the Premier League like Arsenal and Manchester City in the last two matches at home we are now facing the same difficulty against Sheffield as against Arsenal and City.”
Following his red card in the 2-1 victory over Brentford, Boubacar Kamara is suspended for three games.
Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne will make a comeback, but Pau Torres, Bertrand Traore, and Youri Tielemans are hurt.
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