Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is wary facing Everton today.

Emery admits they face a Blues team which is rapidly improving.

He said: “They are progressively getting better and playing being very competitive. With their issue with the points [deduction], they are playing well and being very competitive in each match.

“It's very difficult to beat them in their stadium with their fans. We respect them a lot. We have some injured players and they have some injured players as well.

“They're going to be very competitive at home and we're going to prepare the match respecting them a lot.0

“They are team that when we analyse them and their data, they shoot a lot, they cross a lot and they get a lot of corners offensively.

“Sometimes they are playing in combinations, sometimes with long balls, winning second action and getting a lot of players in the opponent's box. I'm expecting it.

“It will be difficult. We have to defend strongly, we have to control with our positioning on the pitch with our players and try to impose our style, idea and gameplan.

“We have to compete. Competing on Sunday means adapting to them. They are going to play pressing us a lot and demanding a lot from us defensively."