Aston Villa meet Crystal Palace at Villa Park in a Premier League encounter between two mid-table teams.
Victory could see Villa leapfrog Palace and climb as high as seventh in the table, whilst Palace can enter the top six with a win.
Team News
Diego Carlos is a doubt for Aston Villa after he suffered a hamstring injury during their defeat at Liverpool.
Alex Moreno (hamstring) and Jacob Ramsey (foot) could face late fitness tests.
Tyrone Mings (knee), Tim Iroegbunam (unspecified) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain ruled out.
Palace could be without defender, Marc Guehi after he suffered a knock during the first half of England’s friendly win in Scotland.
Matheus Franca (back) and Michael Olise (hamstring) both remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Aston Villa host Crystal Palace at Villa Park in a 3pm BST kick-off on Saturday 16 September, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings against Palace (W2, D1, L2).
- Palace are winless in their last six visits to Villa Park (D2, L4).
- Villa have conceded just one goal in their last five matches at home to Palace (W4, D1).
- Villa have kept just one clean sheet in their four league matches so far this season (W2, L2).
- All six of Palace’s away goals in all competitions this season have been scored after half time.
Prediction
Having simply failed to hit their stride away to Liverpool a fortnight ago, Villa have had the international break to reset and if they have done, I do expect them to come out fighting and return to their attacking best.
Palace meanwhile come into this game off the back of a morale-boosting win over Wolves where they were slow-starters, yet they were ultimately the more clinical despite conceding two sloppy goals from left-flank crosses with poor marking inside the box.
This game though to me personally feels like it could well be a draw because both teams can score goals but aren’t the best defensively coming into this clash, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a scrappy battle with a point apiece.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace
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