Unai Emery says Aston Villa were denied a “clear penalty” in the team’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. Villa had two penalty appeals waved away by referee David Coote with Emery insisting Pau Torres’ shirt was tugged by defender Conor Bradley in the second half.

The international break comes at a welcome time for Aston Villa as they look to regroup and put right their poor run of recent form. They are having to manage playing in Europe as well as sustaining a fight at the top end of the Premier League and this is proving a real test of Unai Emery's managerial credentials.

Michael Owen says he is ‘astonished’ that VAR did not intervene to award Aston Villa a penalty in Liverpool ’s 2-0 win at Anfield on Saturday evening. Goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah sealed the victory for Arne Slot’s side, who are now five points clear at the top of the Premier League.