Aston Villa continue their Premier League title push against Newcastle United at Villa Park.
Victory would see Unai Emery’s Villa go second if can better Arsenal’s result, whilst Newcastle can go as high as seventh if Brighton loses elsewhere.
Team News
Jacob Ramsey is a doubt for Aston Villa as he nears a return from a hamstring injury.
Tyrone Mings (knee), Pau Torres (ankle), Lucas Digne, Jhon Duran (both hamstring), Bertrand Traore (international duty) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain ruled out.
Newcastle could welcome Miguel Almiron (illness) back into contention after he missed their FA Cup win at Fulham due to illness.
Jamaal Lascelles (knock) is a doubt but Elliott Anderson (back), Matt Targett (hamstring), Nick Pope (shoulder), Sandro Tonali (suspension), Joelinton (quad), Joe Willock (Achilles), Harvey Barnes (foot) and Callum Wilson (calf) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa face Newcastle at Villa Park on Tuesday 30 January at 8:15pm GMT, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have claimed 14 points from their last nine league meetings against Newcastle (W4, D2, L3).
- Newcastle are winless in their last seven visits to Villa Park (D3, L4).
- Villa have conceded just one goal in their last seven home games against Newcastle, which came in a 1-1 draw in September 2016.
- Villa have kept two clean sheets in their last nine league games at home (W8, D1).
- Newcastle are looking to avoid suffering five consecutive league defeats for the first time since January 2021.
Prediction
After scrapping their way to a goalless draw at Chelsea in the FA Cup where they were narrowly the more dominant team, Villa now need to rediscover their end product after some sluggish performances lately and find wins if want to keep pressure on their title rivals.
Newcastle meanwhile haven’t exactly fared well on the road this season but with wins in their last two away trips albeit in the FA Cup with clean sheets, there has to be a feeling that they can come and get a result here.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies however have simply been clinical especially when they weren’t at their best against Fulham, so I do expect them to deliver more of the same here and a draw wouldn’t be too surprising if that is the case given Villa’s issues in converting their chances lately.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle United
Result: Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle United