Aston Villa are looking to bounce back from a dismal run of form as it takes on a Crystal Palace side, and they are still struggling for balance.
Unai Emery will have been a relieved man when the international break came about, as it gave him a breather from a dismal run of results. Aston Villa have suffered four defeats on the bounce ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace, and they are winless in five matches across all competitions, which has led to some serious questions about their credibility.
After a decent start to the season, Villa have suffered a slump in the Premier League, taking only a single point from the last available nine. The bad run began with a late concession of an equaliser against Bournemouth, after which they lost their next two league games against Tottenham and Liverpool, both away from home.
In this run of four defeats, they also suffered their first loss this season in the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge, while Crystal Palace eliminated them from the League Cup at Villa Park. Either way, Emery’s side are languishing in ninth on the table at the moment, but still part of the incredibly competitive group vying for a top-four place. Hence, a victory is needed on Saturday to get their season back on track.
Speaking of getting their season back on track, Crystal Palace did look to have found their bearings after a terrible start to the new campaign but went back to old ways before the break. After some narrow defeats and some eventful draws, the pressure was truly on Oliver Glasner before they found a way to beat Tottenham to record their first win of the season.
Crystal Palace did follow that up with an impressive League Cup win over Aston Villa but soon fell back to old habits with a draw and then a loss to Wolves and Fulham, respectively. The pressure is back on Glasner to deliver after the results in the last two games, coupled with Ipswich Town’s win over Spurs, have sent Palace back into the bottom three.
There are light rumours surrounding the Austrian’s job at Selhurst Park, and only a big win over Aston Villa will help take the pressure off Glasner. Palace’s record away at Villa in their last 12 league meetings does make for grim reading. Still, they did smash Emery’s side 5-0 on the last day of the previous season, as well as eliminating their hosts in a recently concluded EFL Cup clash.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
Unai Emery will have to make key selection decisions, especially with a crunch period awaiting his players. There are some fitness doubts with key stars ahead of the resumption of club football action, and it will be the manager’s decision whether to risk some of those stars or not.
Ross Barkley is expected to miss out, while Matty Cash and Jacob Ramsey are also out of the equation. There are niggling doubts about the fitness of Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, and Amadou Onana are all fitness doubts, while Boubacar Kamara is likely to miss out.
There are some concerns with Ian Maatsen as well, which will likely keep him as a bench option. Emery expects some of his doubtful players, including Onana and Torres, to make the lineup. Lucas Digne is firmly expected to start at left-back, while Cash’s fitness doubts could allow Diego Carlos to partner Torres centrally and use Konsa in the right-back role.
Emery will set up his variation of the 4-4-2 for Aston Villa against Crystal Palace, meaning Leon Bailey and John McGinn will be expected to feature in the wide roles. Morgan Rogers will play off striker Ollie Watkins, while Jhon Duran will once again find himself sitting on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers; Watkins
Crystal Palace
Much like their hosts Aston Villa, Crystal Palace have a rather long list of injured players ahead of this trip to Birmingham City. Daichi Kamada’s red card against Fulham will keep him out for this trip, while there are doubts about Eberechi Eze’s fitness, although the attacking midfielder will be aiming to prove his fitness and stake a claim in the starting lineup.
There are considerable doubts about key midfielders Jefferson Lerma and Adam Wharton, while Will Hughes is also suspended for this trip. Hence, the focus will be on the midfield selections, as Cheick Doucoure and Justin Devenny could be given a run in the area for the clash with Aston Villa. Glasner will expect no changes to his back three or the wing-back roles.
Jeffrey Schlupp could come into the equation if Eze fails to prove his fitness. Eddie Nketiah is also a doubt following a problem, as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr will start in the attacking phase for Crystal Palace against Fulham.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Devenny, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
Key Stats
- Aston Villa have lost only once in their last 12 home league meetings with Crystal Palace.
- Aston Villa have lost their last four games across all competitions.
- Crystal Palace have failed to win 10 of their last 11 matches in the Premier League.
- Crystal Palace have won their last two games against Aston Villa in all competitions.
- Ollie Watkins has gone five club games without a goal and only scored once in his past eight appearances for Aston Villa.
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
The English striker will have come under some pressure following a dismal run from his team before the international break. The fans and the manager will look up to him for inspiration and help the team get out of their slump ahead of a crunch period of the season.
Watkins also has Jhon Duran breathing down his neck, and Unai Emery will hope the striker brings his recent form with England to the table. He will be the choice of many to score goals in this fixture, as this game could be a good chance for Watkins to re-discover his scoring boots.
Prediction
Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner will take his team to Birmingham City under severe pressure to deliver a result. However, given the state of his squad with injuries and suspension, it is difficult to see the visitors getting anything out of Villa Park. The Crystal Palace manager will certainly demand one, but Aston Villa are expected to make the best of this opportunity.
Unai Emery is also under some pressure heading into this match, and although he has some fitness issues, Villa’s overall quality will see them take three points, probably not in the most convincing ways. Yet, this game will be the one where the hosts bounce back from their recent slum and restart the march towards their objectives for the season.