Unai Emery makes huge Arne Slot & Jurgen Klopp comparison | OneFootball

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was full of praise for Liverpool's new boss Arne Slot, gushing how the Reds are "doing better" compared to Jurgen Klopp's legendary tenure.

Klopp stepped down from the Anfield hotseat last summer after leading Liverpool to their first English top-flight title in 30 years and lifted the 2019 Champions League, as well as reaching three other European finals.

Slot was only granted one senior addition to the squad this season yet has led Liverpool on a staggering charge both domestically and on the continent. The Reds are well positioned to beat Arsenal to the Premier League title and are clear favourites to win the inaugural edition of the expanded Champions League.

While the Dutchman has always been at pains to point out Klopp's role in laying the foundations for this success, Emery lauded the impact of the incoming head coach. "With Klopp they did fantastic, but with Slot they're doing even better," the Spain boss gushed before Liverpool travel to Villa Park on Wednesday.

"As a coach, it is a big challenge, a challenge to how we can collectively set our gameplan against them. It's the most difficult match we are going to play for the last weeks and months.

"We have to compete because they are going to demand a lot of us, tactically and individually. I appreciate them and they have a very high level of performance this year - more than the past two years. They are even doing better."

After a record-shattering start to the campaign, Slot's Liverpool have slowed in recent weeks, yet remain in a marginally better position compared to Klopp's team of last season.

This current iteration of the Reds have collected three more points than their recent counterparts, who also topped the Premier League table 25 games into the campaign. However, Klopp's side ultimately slumped to a disappointing third - a fate that is surely not on the horizon for Slot and co, at least not according to Unai Emery.