Emery looking ahead
Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.
The Villa manager said: “It’s a different match, a different competition.
“We’re in the semi-finals and of course we are going to enjoy the match and enjoy the process. To play in the semi-final of the Europa League is fantastic. I don’t play one match like this in three years here.
“The supporters forget we are having a fantastic season and we are on the same points as Liverpool on 58.”
Post match reaction from Unai Emery
The Aston Villa boss said: “Today we faced a team that played fantastically and they competed fantastically. They needed the points and they fought to get it.
“In the first half we didn’t perform well, in the second half we reacted but it was not enough. In 35 games, things are very good and we have the advantage to still be in the top five but we must continue to be demanding.
“Maybe the points [for Champions League qualification] is not enough and we must try to recover our form and do the things we were doing – there are still three matches to go. They [Tottenham] played fantastic, they pressed, they won duels and we were not dominant in individual duels and they beat us.”
Who could be relegated?
West Ham United
Position: 18th | Played: 35 | Points: 36 | GD: -19
Remaining fixtures:
- 9 May – Arsenal (H)
- 17 May – Newcastle (A)
- 24 May – Leeds (H)
Where to pick up points? Their impressive form since hugely damaging back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the start of the year have seen West Ham go from doomed to having a genuine chance of survival – even climbing out of the bottom three by thumping Wolves 4-0 straight after the international break. Another point at Crystal Palace may be seen as two lost rather than one gained considering the Eagles’ form, but they bounced back with the late win over Everton. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day looms incredibly large and could prove pivotal.
Tricky contests? A heavy defeat to Brentford may not have been totally deserved for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, yet is nonetheless ill-timed and highly-damaging. A trip across town to Arsenal is unwelcome, too.
Final straight? If West Ham can get through to mid-May with a realistic shot at survival then an away game against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone. The final-day showdown against Daniel Farke’s side could be an all-time classic but won’t be a pretty watch if both sides are still fighting for their lives. However, Leeds might already be safe by then and the fact that the Whites are coming to the London Stadium at least plays into Nuno and co’s hands.
Who could be relegated?
Tottenham Hotspur
Position: 17th | Played: 35 | Points: 37 | GD: -9
Remaining fixtures:
- 9 May – Leeds (H)
- 17 May – Chelsea (A)
- 24 May – Everton (H)
Where to pick up points? A potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three matches from the end of the campaign will be a golden opportunity for Tottenham after escaping the bottom three.
Tricky contests? Sidestepping the obvious quip of ‘every single one’, given their form this season, an away games at Champions League-chasing Chelsea doesn’t look likely to prove fruitful.
Final straight? Leeds at home as the third-last game is absolutely huge. Should that game go awry and Spurs head into the final two matches in the relegation zone, then a trip to Stamford Bridge and clash with Everton to finish up appear unlikely to provide succour.
Who could be relegated?
Nottingham Forest
Position: 16th | Played: 34 | Points: 39 | GD: -4
Remaining fixtures:
- 4 May – Chelsea (A)
- 9 May – Newcastle (H)
- 17 May – Manchester United (A)
- 24 May – Bournemouth (H)
Where to pick up points? Forest had to make the most of a home fixture against doomed Burnley and, inspired by a 15-minute Morgan Gibbs-White hat-trick, they seized that golden opportunity. They then followed that up with a statement 5-0 thrashing of a Sunderland side who are largely on the beach. That could be enough to get over the line. If not, a home game against a struggling Newcastle side who may have nothing to play for could be their best chance.
Tricky contests? Games against three sides chasing European places still await Forest with trips to Manchester United and Chelsea on the docket, plus a home finale against Bournemouth. Forest also have to negotiate the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa, which may prove a distraction.
Final straight? It’s not the best with a journey to Old Trafford on the penultimate day of the season far from ideal and then hosting Bournemouth on the final day also a tricky finish. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could be worse though. Things could be complicated by their Europa League distraction, however.
Who could be relegated?
Leeds United
Position: 15th | Played: 35 | Points: 43 | GD: -5
Remaining fixtures:
- 9 May – Tottenham (A)
- 17 May – Brighton (H)
- 24 May – West Ham (A)
Tricky contests? Hosting European football-chasing Brighton in their penultimate fixture won’t be easy, particularly with trips to their relegation rivals either side of that game.
Final straight? Leeds look safe, but they will be desperate to have that secured by the time they travel to West Ham on the final day. If not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival.
Premier League relegation battle: Do Tottenham, West Ham, Nottingham Forest or Leeds have the best run-in?
Tottenham have given their survival chances a huge boost with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa as they bid to avoid the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League.
Demotion to the second tier for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history.
Tottenham given lifeline as West Ham suffer damaging Brentford defeat in relegation battle
The Hammers, who could have moved five points clear of trouble with a victory, will now find themselves back in the bottom three if Tottenham beat Aston Villa on Sunday.
How Tottenham gave their Premier League survival hopes new life with vital win at Aston Villa
Tottenham looked like a team destined to secure Premier League survival after they beat a dire Aston Villa 2-1 to move out of the bottom three.
Spurs put in their best performance of the season to claim three crucial points at Villa Park, thanks to first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison.
