Aston Villa welcome Southampton to Villa Park in a relegation blockbuster showdown at the foot of the Premier League.
Both teams are currently locked on 15 points but goal difference has kept Villa just above the drop, ahead of Southampton so victory is crucial for the survival hopes of either team.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesVilla have no fresh injury concerns with Keinan Davis and Tyrone Mings both set to return from respective thigh and hamstring injuries next weekend.
Jed Steer is still sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Southampton could have Sofiane Boufal available after missing last weekend’s home defeat to West Ham due to a toe injury.
Kevin Danso missed training this week due to illness, so will be subject to a late fitness test alongside Boufal.
Yan Valery won’t feature until the New Year due to illness, whilst Moussa Djenepo is out with a hamstring injury but could return on Boxing Day against Chelsea.
Form
Villa are on a three league match losing run but have taken seven points from their last five games at home (W2, D1, L2).
Southampton are winless in their last two outings but have taken seven points from their previous three beforehand (W2, D1), although they have taken just two points from their last five away league trips.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have taken just three points from their last five league meetings with Southampton (D3, L2).
- Jack Grealish is the only surviving Villa player from their last teamsheet against Southampton in April 2016, which they lost 4-2.
- Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Jan Bednarek have conceded a joint league-high 36 goals each this season.
- Villa are the only team who have made a century of blocks so far this season in 17 matches.
- 79 of Southampton’s 85 corners this season have been taken by James Ward-Prowse, with Ryan Bertrand (5) and Sofiane Boufal (1) the only two other Saints players to taken corners.
Prediction
If there were bonus points for the most hard-working team then it would have to be Villa, because they turn up and given their all every match even if their defending costs them at times.
Southampton meanwhile were unlucky not to get anything from their loss to West Ham last weekend, so will surely fancy their chances against a weakened Villa defence if they’re clinical enough.
Villa’s home form however is decent but the Saints are showing progress on the road despite their away woes, so a point apiece would be a decent result.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Southampton
Result: Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton