Aston Villa will look to continue their impressive run of form when they host Luton Town in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last five league matches, and they are fifth in the league table heading into the game against Luton Town. They will look to push for a place in the top four with a win over the Hatters.
Meanwhile, the visitors are 17th in the league table, and they will look to pull clear of the relegation zone with a positive result here. Luton have picked up just one win in the Premier League this season and will have to produce a very impressive performance in order to grind something out of this game.
The away side are winless in five of their last six matches, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Back in B6 on Sunday. 💜 pic.twitter.com/Dx5IHAl4m9
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 27, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
The home side will be without the services of Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings. Both players have been ruled out with serious knee injuries, and they are expected to return towards the end of the season.
Alex Moreno is sidelined with a thigh injury, and he will return to action next month. Jacob Ramsey remains a long-term absentee because of an ankle injury. Unai Emery is likely to field his side in a 4-4-2 formation, with Emiliano Martinez in goal.
Matty Cash and Lucas Digne are likely to be deployed as the full-backs here, and the two players will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Ezri Konsa will start at the heart of the Villa defence alongside Pau Torres.
Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara will start in the middle of the park. The two players will look to protect the central defence and keep things compact in the middle. John McGinn and Nicolo Zaniolo will be deployed as the wide players here and they will act as inverted playmakers.
They will look to create opportunities for their teammates and add width to the side. Finally, Ollie Watkins will lead the line for Aston Villa, with Moussa Diaby providing support to him in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Luiz, Kamara, Zaniolo; Diaby, Watkins
Luton Town
The visitors will be without Mads Andersen, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Amari’i Bell and Reece Burke because of thigh injuries. Meanwhile, Dan Potts and Jordan Clark are ruled out with their respective ankle injuries.
Luton Town are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Thomas Kaminski in goal. Issa Kabore and Alfie Doughty will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defence.
Tom Lockyer will start alongside Teden Mengi at the heart of the defence. In the midfield pivot, Marvelous Nakamba will start alongside Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. The two players will look to break up the opposition attacks and win the ball back for their side.
Chiedozie Ogbene and Elijah Adebayo will start as the wingers here, and the two players will look to set up counter-attacking opportunities during transitions. Jacob Brown will start as the central attacking midfielder, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. Carlton Morris will lead the line for the away side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kaminski; Kabore, Lockyer, Mengi, Doughty; Nakamba, Mpanzu; Ogbene, Brown, Adebayo; Morris
Key Stats
- Aston Villa are undefeated in their last five matches in the Premier League.
- Nine goals have been scored in the last three meetings between these two sides.
- Luton have won two of their last three meetings against Aston Villa.
- Luton have conceded 17 goals in nine league matches this season.
- Aston Villa have scored 17 goals in their last six matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
🟣🔵 14 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for Ollie Watkins. On fire.
Aston Villa have been able to extend his contract two weeks ago — perfect timing. pic.twitter.com/uV6HApW3OG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 26, 2023
The 27-year-old Aston Villa striker has been in fine form this season, scoring five goals and picking up five assists in nine Premier League matches so far. He has contributed to seven goals and three assists in his last eight outings for Aston Villa and England. The 27-year-old will look to stitch the Aston Villa attack together, and he has the quality to punish the vulnerable Luton defence.
Prediction
Aston Villa 2-0 Luton Town
The home side are undoubtedly the favourites heading into this contest, and they should be able to extend their fine run of form here. They have picked up four wins and a draw from their last five league matches and they will be full of confidence.
Luton Town, on the other hand, have failed to win eight of their nine league matches this season, and they have conceded 17 goals in the process. Aston Villa have the attacking quality to punish their defensive frailties, and a comfortable 2-0 win for the home side is on the cards.