Aston Villa will host Sheffield United at Villa Park on Friday night, looking to continue their impressive run of form.
Aston Villa are on a nine-game unbeaten run, and they are third in the league table ahead of the visit of Sheffield United. The West Midlands outfit have beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Arsenal during this period.
Unai Emery’s men are just one point adrift of the top spot, and a win here could send them to the top of the table, especially if the result of Liverpool vs Arsenal goes their way. Meanwhile, Sheffield United are at the bottom of the Premier League table, and they have lost four of their last five league matches.
The Blades are one of the favourites to go down, and they will have to improve immensely in order to stay up this season. They have a surprisingly good head-to-head record against Aston Villa and will look to bolster it on Friday. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
The home side will be without Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings for the remainder of the season because of serious knee injuries. Pau Torres is ruled out for this game with an injury as well. Boubacar Kamara picked up a red card in his last outing, and he is suspended.
Aston Villa will shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Emiliano Martinez in goal. Matty Cash and Lucas Digne will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Diego Carlos will start alongside Ezri Konsa at the heart of the defence.
Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add pace, flair and creativity from the flanks. Douglas Luiz will start alongside captain John McGinn in the middle of the park. The two players will look to add defensive cover and drive to the side. Finally, Moussa Diaby will start alongside Ollie Watkins in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Carlos, Konsa, Digne; Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Diaby, Watkins
Sheffield United
The Blades will be without Chris Basham, who has been ruled out for the season with a foot injury. Rhys Norrington-Davies and Tom Davies are unavailable for a few weeks with thigh injuries. John Egan is sidelined until the end of January with an ankle issue, while Daniel Jebbison misses out with illness.
The visitors will shape up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Wes Foderingham in goal. Jayden Bogle and Max Lowe will start as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and help out during transitions. Anel Ahmedhodzic will feature in the heart of the defence alongside Auston Trusty.
Vinicius Souza will be deployed as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to break up the opposition attacks. James McAtee and Cameron Archer will be deployed in the wide areas.
William Osula and Gustavo Hamer should start as the advanced central midfielders here. The duo will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Finally, Oliver McBurnie will lead the line for Sheffield United against Aston Villa.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Foderingham; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Lowe; Souza; McAtee, Hamer, Osula, Archer; McBurnie
Key Stats
- Aston Villa have won five of the last six Premier League matches.
- Sheffield United have conceded at least twice in 13 of their last 16 Premier League matches.
- Sheffield United are unbeaten in five of their last six matches against Aston Villa.
- Sheffield United have conceded 43 goals in 17 league matches this season.
- Aston Villa have conceded at least once in four of their last six outings.
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
The 27-year-old Aston Villa striker has been in phenomenal form this season, scoring nine goals and picking up six assists in 17 Premier League matches. The England international has found the back of the net five times in his last eight outings for the club, and he will look to get on the scoresheet once again.
Prediction
Aston Villa 3-1 Sheffield United
Aston Villa are in impressive form right now, and they are full of confidence and momentum. Despite the injury problems and suspensions, they have a quality squad capable of grinding out all three points at home against the Blades.
The away side are lacking in belief and quality right now and their misery is likely to continue with a defeat here. The Hard Tackle predicts a straightforward 3-1 win for Unai Emery and his charges, with Sheffield United managing a late consolation goal.
