Unai Emery gives Youri Tielemans injury update after Aston Villa ace omitted by Belgium

Unai Emery is hopeful Youri Tielemans will be available to play for Aston Villa against Liverpool on Saturday night despite not being included in the Belgium national team squad.

The midfielder is currently dealing with a small knee pain and will rest over the international break. Tielemans has started all 10 of Villa's Premier League matches this season and each of the club's four Champions League games too.

Villa come into the match on the back of three defeats against Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Club Brugge. Their perfect start in the Champions League came to an end on Wednesday in bizarre fashion as Tyrone Mings picked the ball up in the penalty box unaware that it was in play after Emi Martinez took his goal kick.

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Liverpool, meanwhile, have won 14 of their first 16 matches in all competitions this season, only losing to Nottingham Forest and drawing at Arsenal in the Premier League.

Having won just one of their six Premier League home games against Villa between 2009 and 2014, Liverpool have now won five of their last six at Anfield against the Villans.

Villa have lost 16 of their last 18 Premier League away games against sides starting the day top of the table, including each of the last nine in a row. Indeed, they’ve only won one of their 23 such games, beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road in January 2000.

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