Liverpool face Aston Villa on Saturday night as they look to consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds have been on an excellent run of form of late, winning 14 of their 16 matches in all competitions so far.
Saturday will be another test, though, as the notoriously astute Unai Emery takes his team to Anfield.
Villa are not in the best of form currently having lost each of their past three games. However, Emery’s reputation as one of the best tacticians around means they should not be taken lightly.
Since Arne Slot arrived at Liverpool to replace Jurgen Klopp, many players, pundits and Slot himself have tried to explain the tactical differences between his team and Klopp’s.
As Emery looks to decode what makes Liverpool tick ahead of Saturday’s match, it has been interesting to hear the Spaniard’s take on what the Reds are doing differently to before.
Unai Emery gives Liverpool breakdown
Emery has doubtlessly done a brilliant job at Aston Villa. To get the club into the Champions League in his first full season in charge was mightily impressive.
This term has started a little more slowly, but Villa have the quality within their squad to get something against Liverpool.
Ahead of the game, Emery sat down with the press on Friday to give his preview. And after being asked for the differences he has seen between Klopp and Slot, the 53-year-old gave an interesting breakdown.
“The team is doing the best this season in the Premier League and Champions League and it is a challenge tomorrow,” Emery began.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Aston Villa as Arne Slot brings ‘struggling’ player back to start
“We are analysing them how they are playing and they are playing very, very, very well.
“In some tactical things they have maybe changed something but they are playing with the same players, playing very well.
“The style we clearly can watch but more or less it’s the same power they had before,” Emery added. “Astute tactically and offensively they are really a very strong team, collectively and individually as well. Tomorrow is a huge challenge for us to stop them, to play with our personality.”
Liverpool predicted to beat Aston Villa
Saturday feels like a really big day in the Premier League. Not only are Liverpool in action against Villa, but Man City play away to Brighton just before the match at Anfield.
If City drop points on the South Coast, then Liverpool will know that they can pull further clear at the top of the table.
Under the lights at Anfield, that would make for an absolutely raucous atmosphere.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| 2 |  Man CityManchester City | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 23 |
| 3 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| 4 |  ChelseaChelsea | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| 5 |  ArsenalArsenal | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 18 |
| 6 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 18 |
Obviously, even if City do win, Liverpool can send a bit of a statement by beating Villa. It would put them ten points ahead of their opponents, as well as Arsenal and Chelsea who meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chris Sutton has predicted Liverpool to win on Saturday and if they do they will go into the international break riding a real wave.
Anything less and some questions will perhaps be raised about their true title-challenging credentials. A big night lies in wait.
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