Unai Emery's Aston Villa are set to seek redemption following a disappointing UEFA Champions League defeat to Monaco, where they conceded an early goal to Wilfried Singo. As they prepare to host West Ham United at Villa Park this Sunday evening, the loss has cast a shadow over Villa's ambitions for a top-eight finish, leaving them in ninth place with just one match remaining.
In domestic competitions, Aston Villa have demonstrated formidable form at home, remaining unbeaten in their last ten matches across all competitions. Emery is eager to extend this impressive streak. Last weekend, Villa showcased remarkable resilience, recovering from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against Arsenal, with goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins highlighting their fighting spirit.
Villa's aspirations in the Premier League centre on breaking into the top four. Currently trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by four points, with three teams in between, a convincing win over West Ham would send a strong message as they aim to solidify their position.
Graham Potter's West Ham will make their second visit to Villa Park within a fortnight, having previously faced Villa in the FA Cup, where they narrowly lost after a late surge from the home side. Following that match, West Ham managed to bounce back with a victory over Fulham but faced a setback last weekend, succumbing to a defeat at home to Crystal Palace. In that encounter, Jean-Philippe Mateta netted twice, while Dinos Mavropanos received a second yellow card, complicating matters for the Hammers.
Potter will be keen to avenge the recent defeat and restore momentum for his side. Currently positioned in 14th place, West Ham are ten points clear of the relegation zone. A victory against Villa could significantly bolster the confidence of both players and management.
Aston Villa will be without several key players for this encounter, with Amadou Onana recently sustaining a hamstring strain during the match against Arsenal. John McGinn and Ross Barkley are also unavailable, while defender Pau Torres remains sidelined. This leaves Tyrone Mings to partner Ezri Konsa in central defence, with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne likely to occupy the full-back positions. The midfield duo of Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara will be crucial, complemented by Morgan Rogers in an attacking midfield role, flanked by Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey. Despite interest from West Ham earlier this month, Jhon Duran will remain on the bench as Emery continues to favour Watkins as his starting striker.
The anticipated lineup for Aston Villa, set to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, is: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins.
Conversely, Potter faces challenges with several players unavailable for selection, particularly in the striking department. Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug are both out for an extended period, and Jarrod Bowen's foot injury further complicates matters. Potter may opt to employ Lucas Paquetá in a false-nine role, a tactic that has yielded mixed results. Paquetá previously scored in this position against Fulham, and Potter might look to replicate that success, with Mohammed Kudus returning to a wide role.
Tomas Soucek is expected to provide support behind Paquetá, with Carlos Soler and Kudus on the flanks. Edson Álvarez and Guido Rodríguez will fill the central midfield roles. With Jean-Clair Todibo injured, Max Kilman is set to partner Aaron Cresswell, as Mavropanos serves a suspension following his red card against Palace.
West Ham's probable lineup also follows a 4-2-3-1 structure: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Cresswell, Emerson; Álvarez, Rodríguez; Kudus, Soucek, Soler; Paquetá.
As reported by The Hard Tackle, Aston Villa are currently deliberating West Ham's recent bids for Duran. Despite the Hammers' interest, Villa have remained steadfast, with Watkins continuing to be the preferred option up front. Emery believes that, in fine form, Watkins is the best choice to lead the attack, while Duran's opportunities to make an impact remain limited.
West Ham's recent form has been inconsistent, and Potter will need to address the issues that led to their defeat against Crystal Palace. However, with no midweek fixtures, the Hammers will be well-rested, albeit perhaps lacking the quality to match Villa.
Emery will be determined to maintain Villa’s unbeaten home streak when they face West Ham, aiming for an improved performance compared to their last outing. With their attacking capabilities, Aston Villa are well-equipped to challenge the West Ham defence and strive for a crucial victory as they pursue a top-four finish.