Aston Villa look to make an instant move out of the relegation zone as they visit Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium.
Brighton can climb above Newcastle with a win into 13th if the Magpies lose, whereas Villa could improve to 15th with victory and other results going their way.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAaron Mooy is fit and ready to return for Brighton after missing their defeat at Everton last weekend with a knee injury.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Adam Webster (both knock) and Shane Duffy (groin) are also expected to both be available for selection.
Jose Izquierdo (knee) and Dan Burn (shoulder) should both return next month, whereas Leon Balogun (thigh) is ruled out indefinitely.
Villa could welcome Matt Targett back from a hamstring strain this weekend, as Jonathan Kodjia remains doubtful with illness.
Keinan Davis (thigh), Jed Steer (Achilles), John McGinn (ankle), Tom Heaton and Wesley (both knee) remain ruled out.
Form
Brighton enter this match with three defeats from their last five in all competitions (W1, D1, L3), although they have taken five points from their last four home league games (W1, D2, L1).
Villa head to the AMEX with seven defeats in their last 11 across three competitions (W3, D1, L7), despite scoring in each of their last three away trips in three different competitions.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa won the only previous Premier League meeting between these teams, coming from behind to win 2-1 in October.
- Brighton have won just one of their last 15 games against Villa in all competitions (W1, D5, L9).
- Villa have won just one of four previous top flight meetings (W1, D2, L1), of which all took place in the old First Division.
- Jack Grealish has scored in each of his three previous appearances for Villa against Brighton, with two of his three goals coming after half-time.
- Martin Montoya has made one last-man tackle for Brighton this season compared to none last season.
Prediction
I really don’t know what to make of this game because Villa will be hurting after last weekend’s woeful 6-1 thrashing at home by Manchester City, yet Brighton are hardly in fine form themselves.
Villa however are still without any first-team strikers which is a concern heading into a game like this, unless they utilise one or two of their youth strikers otherwise I can just see one result coming if the Seagulls can attack relentlessly.
Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Aston Villa
Result: Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa