This weekend’s Premier League action climaxes at Villa Park as Aston Villa take on West Ham United in Monday Night Football.
Villa will move out of the relegation zone with a point whilst West Ham can go third with victory.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAston Villa have no fresh injury concerns as Trezeguet serves an one match ban after being sent off against Crystal Palace just before the international break.
James Chester and Matt Targett are closing in on returns from respective hamstring injuries but remain ruled out for this weekend, whilst Jonathan Kodjia is ruled out with a cheekbone fracture.
West Ham have a near full squad available as Michail Antonio remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, which he picked up during the Hammers’ 2-0 away win at Newport in the Carabao Cup.
Winston Reid is their only other absentee as he continues his lengthy recovery from a knee injury but could feature next weekend against Manchester United.
Form
Aston Villa have just one win from their opening four league games but have scored in both home games against Bournemouth and Everton.
West Ham have taken seven points in their last three league matches since a heavy opening weekend defeat, whilst taking 2-0 victories in their last two outings in all competitions.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have won just one of their last five meetings with West Ham (W1, D2, L2).
- West Ham have taken just one win in their last nine league trips to Villa Park (W1, D3, L5).
- Villa has made 25 blocks in their opening four games with nine of those blocks coming from Tyrone Mings, who has made more blocks than any other player so far this season.
- Coming into this round of fixtures, Mings have made more blocks, clearances and headed clearances than any other player.
- Only Manuel Lanzini has played more than one through ball for West Ham this season, producing two through balls in four appearances.
Prediction
Villa are definitely in for a tough test because West Ham are a difficult team when going forward on the attack with their pace, and ability to spring those attacks at any time.
The Villains however do already know how to score at home so I can see a competitive game here, with the Hammers just edging it.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham United
Result: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United