Aston Villa look to reignite their Premier League title bid in a home clash against Leeds United.
Victory would see Villa stay third but move to within five points of league leaders, Arsenal, whilst Leeds can go 13th with a win if Brighton fail to beat Brentford.
Team News
Goalkeeper, Marco Bizot is suspended for Villa after he was red carded in their 3-1 FA Cup exit at home to Newcastle last weekend, although Emiliano Martinez was set to return to the starting line-up after he was rested in that match prior to having been substituted on for Leon Bailey as Bizot’s replacement in goal.
Matty Cash missed Villa’s last two games due to knee inflammation and is doubtful for selection, with Unai Emery not keen to rush him back too soon.
Andres Garcia (hamstring), Youri Tielemans (ankle), Alysson, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara (all knee) remain absent.
Leeds will be without Noah Okafor after he suffered a hamstring injury during their FA Cup victory at Birmingham.
Dan James missed that trip with a back injury but is available for selection at Villa Park, as will Anton Stach and Pascal Struijk following their recoveries from hip injuries.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa host Leeds at Villa Park on Saturday 21 February at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Villa have avoided defeat in their last six meetings against Leeds (W4, D2).
- Leeds have won one of their last five Premier League visits to Villa (W1, D2, L2).
- Villa have won their last two meetings against Leeds by 2-1 results (W2).
- Each of Villa’s last three home matches in the league have been settled by 1-0 results, of which Unai Emery’s Villains lost two of those three games (W1, L2).
- Noah Okafor has scored in both of Leeds’ last two league matches (W1, D1).
Prediction
Although their FA Cup run is over after poor second-half ten-men marking against Newcastle who outclassed them more clinically than they were when on top in the first half with 11 men, Villa now need to just reset and focus on the league and Europa League for the remainder of the season.
Emery’s Villains though will be buoyed by Arsenal’s slip-up at Wolves in midweek because they have a chance to go five points behind the Gunners, but they will need to be more clinical when on top than they were last weekend.
Leeds meanwhile deserve credit because Daniel Farke put out a strong first team at Birmingham in the FA Cup and were lucky to win on penalties, having been marginally outplayed in a close game attack wise which really could of gone either way so a draw and shootout felt right really.
Farke though need to ensure that his Whites are fully focused because they’re still in a scrap for survival and continue to play as well as they’ve done lately, but Villa probably will be too strong in the end quality wise.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Leeds
Result: Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds
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