Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has been an important player for Steven Gerrard’s team this season, but Villa are now poised to be without him for a prolonged period due to a recent knee injury.
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa is facing a lengthy layoff after suffering a serious knee injury during the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The defender could now be ruled out for as long as 16 weeks, meaning he is out for the rest of this season and will also miss the start of next season. Konsa has played in 29 of Villa’s 36 Premier League games this term, scoring twice and helping to keep eight clean sheets, with his performances linking him with an England call-up earlier in the campaign.
The news will also come as a blow to Liverpool, who are counting on Villa to do them a favour against Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League season this Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s City side is presently leading the Reds by a point in the title battle, aiming for their fourth domestic championship in five seasons.
The veteran midfielder, who captained the Reds and appeared 710 times for them between 1998 and 2015, will be hoping to end Villa’s season on a good note while also giving Liverpool any hope of winning the league title on Sunday.
The loss of defender Konsa, who has been a crucial member for his team this season, will be a major setback for Villa. Unlike the majority of the Premier League, Villa is one of six teams in action on Thursday, with two games remaining this season. They face relegation-threatened Burnley on Thursday night, and a win for Gerrard’s team puts Burnley at severe risk of relegation.
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is a potential doubt for that match due to a “minor issue,” but Gerrard expressed optimism that the Argentinian will be available to play the Clarets.
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is a potential doubt for the encounter owing to a “small ailment,” but Gerrard is confident that the Argentine will be available to face the Clarets.
“No, they are not,” Gerrard replied when asked if the games against Burnley and City are more significant for their opponents than they are for Villa. “Maybe that’s true from their perspective, but I’m not involved in a relegation or title fight; I’m the Aston Villa manager, and these are both games in which we can pick up three valuable points.
