Yahoo News Tielemans, Zaniolo, Moreno - Unai Emery gives injury updates ahead of Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Unai Emery gave injury updates on several players after Aston Villa's 2-0 defeat to Olympiacos on Thursday night.
Villa were knocked out of the Europa Conference League at the semi-final stage following a 6-2 aggregate defeat to the Greek giants. Emery was without up to eight players in the second leg, including Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers who were unable to recover in time for the trip to Athens.
Tielemans injured his groin during Villa's 2-2 draw with Chelsea at the end of last month, while Rogers was replaced halfway through the first period against Brighton last weekend due to a muscle injury. Alex Moreno is the latest player to pick up a small knock, meaning he missed Thursday night's second leg too.
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"Each day is going to be very important because some players have small injuries," Emery said when asked about when his players will return. "Some are having small pain and there is no date when they can come back, like Zaniolo.
"He is close but is not comfortable with his pain. Hopefully he can progress in the next days.
"Tielemans is close, Alex Moreno will need a few days and maybe could be available (for Liverpool)."
Villa have two games remaining to clinch Champions League qualification, against Liverpool and then Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.
But a fourth-placed finish could be confirmed as early as Saturday if Burnley beat Tottenham. Failing that, if Spurs win at the weekend and Villa lose to Liverpool, then a Man City victory against Ange Postecoglou's side on Tuesday night would be enough for Villa to book their place in UEFA's elite club competition.
