Unai Emery is anticipating the “most difficult challenge” of his Aston Villa reign against Liverpool on Saturday.
The Reds have strung seven consecutive victories together to mount a late charge for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Villa have been strong away from home in the top flight since Emery became head coach in October, taking 20 points from 12 games, and he wants his team to show their qualities on Merseyside.
“We’re going to face the most difficult challenge we’ve had on Saturday,” he said.
“Defensively we are doing very well, and we are going to try to stop them, individually and collectively, and the big power they have.
“That is the work we are doing; we are going to defend by trying to keep ball possession, trying to take up good positions on the pitch and try to win each individual duel on the pitch, offensively and defensively.
“The key is to be competitive like we were being two or three months ago. We have to try to repeat again our best performances away by being competitive.”
Emery will lead Villa into the game fresh from a nomination for the league’s Manager of the Season award.
The Spaniard’s impact on the team has been plain for all to see, and after taking the club from the bottom five to challenging for a top-seven finish, he is determined to keep pushing his squad.
He said: “Every player and myself, as a coach, is facing pressure in our careers for a long time.
“We have been improving for hard challenges that we have to face. To play against Liverpool in Liverpool is and always has been very, very difficult.
“This is not being under pressure, this is a match to enjoy the challenge, to enjoy pressing them, to enjoy playing against them when they are having their best performances during this season.
“I want to prepare the match with the players. I want to enjoy the day before the match. I want to enjoy travelling to Liverpool and the hours before the match, trying to be focused and clinical during two hours on the pitch against them.
“I’ve played against Liverpool there and it’s always very difficult. The players here have played there and it’s always very difficult. To score on Saturday will be very difficult.
“We have to practice moments like that. We have to face the match like that. We want to take the level they have now, Liverpool, a high level.
“They were with us in the table one or two months ago, but now they are playing again like the best Liverpool with Klopp.”
