Unai Emery admits Aston Villa were ultimately caught out by Liverpool’s “amazing” transition in a Boxing Day thriller.
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk put the Reds in control at the break before a strong revival from the home side led to Ollie Watkins pulling a goal back and setting up a grandstand finish.
Liverpool, though, capitalised on one of several breakaway opportunities when Darwin Nunez set up teenage substitute Stefan Bajcetic to score his first senior goal and seal a 3-1 Premier League triumph on Monday.
READ MORE: PSV Eindhoven confirm 'club record' Cody Gakpo transfer agreement with Liverpool
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk hoping for new January signings at Liverpool
But Emery believes his team’s overall performance meant they deserved more from the game.
“I’m disappointed,” said the Villa boss. “We did a great effort and the result was so hard for us. The first half we created chances, we didn’t score and to concede two goals at set-pieces is not normal as we are working well at set-pieces. The half-time score was tough for us.
“The second half we needed to keep our gameplan and try to get chances to score and opportunities to come back. We played very well, we scored and had chances and were better than them I think.
“But their transition is amazing, they have fast players like Salah and Darwin Nunez and they created two or three chances and then they scored one to finish the match.
“The last 15 minutes of the first half after their second goal we didn’t react as we wanted. We tried to fight but without thinking about our gameplan. We spoke about it in the first half and in the second half we did what we had spoken about.”
Emery, who replaced Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as Villa manager in October, added: “When you play Liverpool it is open and they are going to have chances as well. But I want to be optimistic and I’m disappointed and a bit angry but the attitude of the players was amazing.
“In some individual and collective tactical issues we did well, but we have to learn and add more things tactically for the step up I want to do.”
READ NEXT
Cody Gakpo close to Liverpool transfer after advanced negotiations with PSV
Liverpool's next five Premier League fixtures compared to Man United, Tottenham and Chelsea
Van Dijk sent brutal Cody Gakpo message to Man Utd before Liverpool launched bid
Liverpool player ratings as Darwin Nunez chaotic but three shine in win at Villa
Brendan Rodgers gives update on Leicester injury that could be 'massive' for Liverpool match
