Aston Villa are set to host Crystal Palace at Villa Park this weekend, seeking to regain their footing after a challenging spell characterised by injuries and inconsistent form. As the international fixtures have exacted their toll, reports suggest that some players have returned with a visible lack of enthusiasm for their national duties—evidently opting to evade selection under the guise of injuries. Crucially for Villa, they will be missing key figures like Tyrone Konsa and Amad Diallo, both of whom would have likely featured prominently in this encounter, alongside Jacob Ramsey and Boubacar Kamara. Nevertheless, the squad's depth appears to be a more reliable asset than in prior seasons, with the potential return of Ross Barkley and other capable substitutes set to mitigate the effects of these absences.
Despite these setbacks, there remains a palpable sense of optimism among Villa supporters. The current league standings offer a glimmer of hope; Villa find themselves just one victory away from entering the coveted top four. This marks a stark contrast to recent campaigns where the club often hovered in the lower echelons of the table.
The fixtures ahead are nothing short of crucial, with Villa eager to navigate a demanding schedule that could significantly shape their season. Following the clash with Crystal Palace, Villa will turn their attention to a high-stakes match against Serie A giants Juventus, accentuating the importance of securing three points today. With eight fixtures to contend with in December alone, this period is critical for Villa as they strive for a strong finish in the league, especially with the Champions League encounter against Celtic looming in just 67 days.
Historically, Villa have fared well against Palace on home turf, suffering only one defeat in their last 12 Premier League meetings since December 2013, recording seven wins and four draws in that stretch (source: The Villa Blog). They have also demonstrated defensive strength, achieving six clean sheets and frequently containing Palace to just a single goal in previous encounters. However, it is important to acknowledge that the Eagles handed Villa a heavy 5-0 defeat in their last visit to Selhurst Park and narrowly overcame them 2-1 in the League Cup last month.
Manager Unai Emery is currently facing the unsettling prospect of four consecutive defeats across all competitions—an unfamiliar scenario for the experienced tactician, marking a first in over 1,000 matches. Another loss today would be a disheartening fifth straight defeat, echoing the troubles the club encountered under former manager Dean Smith in late 2021. On a positive note, Villa have remained unbeaten against teams in the bottom half of the table this season, amassing four wins and three draws.
Conversely, Crystal Palace are navigating a difficult start to the campaign, as they seek their first Premier League away victory of the season—a feat they have not achieved in their first six away matches since the 2017-18 campaign. With a mere seven points from 11 matches, their current performance represents the third-lowest total at this juncture in a Premier League season.
Supporters of Aston Villa are hopeful that this match can herald a turnaround for Emery's side, allowing them to cement their status as a formidable presence in the league and move past their recent struggles. The anticipation is palpable as fans await kick-off, understanding that the stakes heighten as the festive season approaches.