'Tired' Liverpool, Chelsea's leaky defence and Villa's attacking concerns

· Sky-PL

Aston Villa managed just seven shots against Nottingham Forest. That is the third-lowest shot count they have posted in 59 home league games under Unai Emery.

Aston Villa managed just seven shots against Nottingham Forest. That is the third-lowest shot count they have posted in 59 home league games under Unai Emery.

It wasn't just that Villa failed to score more than once. It was the manner of their attacking play. Everything looked difficult. There was a lack of fluency, a lack of penetration and a lack of ideas.

You can understand some of it.

Villa have undergone significant change this summer and it takes time for new players to understand each other's movements, particularly in the final third. There is also a new goalkeeper behind them and fresh faces still adapting to Emery's demands.

Seven shots at home is a red flag though, regardless of the personnel.

Villa need to find ways of getting their attacking players into dangerous positions more frequently. The worrying thing is that Forest didn't need to produce a defensive masterclass to restrict them.

Of course, Unai Emery is one of the best coaches around at solving problems. He will know this is one that needs addressing quickly.

Delap the battering ram is back

This was the Liam Delap we remember.

The one who bullied defenders at Ipswich. The one who made centre-backs uncomfortable simply by running towards them. The one who plays football like a battering ram.

There was something wonderfully uncomplicated about his performance in Nottingham Forest's 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.

Delap ran the channels relentlessly, chased lost causes and gave Villa's defenders absolutely no time to settle. He was aggressive without being reckless and looked like he was enjoying himself.

And he got the goal.

He took aim and unleashed a strike that flew into the net with the sort of power that summed up his afternoon perfectly.

Direct. Powerful. Relentless.

That is what Forest signed him for.

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