2024-25 Premier League: Week 15 – Aston Villa vs Southampton

Aston Villa host relegation battling Southampton in a Premier League fixture.

Victory will lift Villa up to fifth in the table, whilst Southampton will remain bottom regardless of the result.

 

Team News

Villa have no fresh injury issues following their 3-1 win over Brentford but manager, Unai Emery could rotate his squad.

Amadou Onana (foot) is a doubt but Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) is still out.

Southampton will be without Jack Stephens following his red card in their 5-1 loss at home to Chelsea.

Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tyler Dibling are back from suspension, whilst Paul Onuachu (unspecified) is a doubt.

Lesley Ugochukwu was ineligible in midweek but will return to the line-up at Villa Park.

Aaron Ramsdale (finger), Jan Bednarek (knee), Juan Larios (fitness), Will Smallbone (thigh), Ross Stewart (calf), Adam Lallana (hamstring) and Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Villa host Southampton at Villa Park on Saturday 7 December at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Villa have won four of their last five meetings against Southampton (W4, L1).
• Southampton have lost two of their last eight trips to Villa (W4, D2, L2).
• Villa have netted six goals in their last three meetings against Southampton without conceding (W3).
• Ollie Watkins has scored in Villa’s last two home games (W1, D1).
• Just one of Southampton’s five points this season has been scored away from home.

 

Prediction

Following a clinical win over Brentford and with a trip to RB Leipzig to come on Tuesday, Villa wisely can afford to rest some players but this is also a chance for Villa to boost their goal difference if play like they did against the Bees.

Southampton meanwhile were just poor in their defeat to Chelsea aside from small decent attacking moments, which should provide a small base to use as motivation to bounce back here.

I however do think that Villa will have just too much quality even if rest some players here.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Southampton

Result: Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton