Aston Villa have dropped their threat of legal action against Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.

The former Liverpool defender had apologised on Saturday for using "clumsy and wrong" language when linking manager Unai Emery with becoming Manchester United head coach.

On Friday, Villa had said they would initiate legal action against the former England defender for what they described as "unacceptable insults".

The club's statement, signed by chairman Nassef Sawiris, referred to comments made by Carragher on the Stick to Football podcast, when he suggested Emery would want to manage a "giant" club.

However, Villa have now ended any threat of legal action following Carragher's apology.

With United manager Michael Carrick's position in doubt with the club 17th in the Premier League, Carragher said on Stick to Football: "Surely he (Emery) would want that opportunity to manage a giant again.

"There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not.

"So Real Madrid will take Manchester United's best player, they did it with [Cristiano] Ronaldo. And there will be teams below Aston Villa, and they'll take their players or manager.

"Aston Villa will never be Manchester United."

Carragher also told Aston Villa fans to shut up, in response to their criticism of him.

Posting on social media on Saturday, Carragher said his comments were intended to be "tongue in cheek".

"I'd like to apologise to Aston Villa, the owners and their fans," the pundit wrote.

"My language this week was clumsy and wrong.

"I can assure Villa fans it was tongue in cheek but I can understand it's not come across that way, so apologies."