Unai Emery hoping loan stars can spark Aston Villa ahead of Liverpool test
Unai Emery is edging closer to handing Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio their first Villa starts after expressing hope the loan stars can spark his team’s struggling attack.
Villa host Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday night looking to snap a four-match winless league run which has left them with ground to make up in the race for a top-five finish.
Rashford and Asensio have both been limited to substitute appearances since joining for the rest of the season but Emery has been encouraged by the progress both have made.
The former boasts a particularly impressive career record against the Reds, scoring five goals in eight home matches for Manchester United.
“They are in their individual process to get fit and understand tactically our idea,” said Emery. “Tactically we are changing a little bit with those players and we have to try and practice a little bit in the training session as well to practice playing in matches.
“We were working every day here, trying to get as quick as possible the idea of them understanding
“We are as well having some meetings trying to show it but now they are getting better, understanding more and they are closer to playing in the starting XI.”
Emery hopes the pair can add power to a Villa team who are only the 12th highest scorers in the top flight.
The Villa boss regards Liverpool striker Mo Salah, who has scored 28 goals and set up a further 19 in all competitions, as the kind of player who can lift those around him and hopes Asensio and Rashford, together, could do the same.
Emery said: “Salah is unique, he's feeling confident and comfortable playing decent football in his best moment.
“Marcus has done that before and Marco Asensio did it as well. My challenge with them is to get the best of them again.
“Each one has their qualities, Salah is a player who assists and scores goals more than anyone right now.
“Our players have different qualities. They may not be huge scorers, they may not be huge with assists but if they can reach double figures together.
“Salah is doing double the number not with one, but with two, over 20 and that’s the highest level in football.”
