Aston Villa vs Southampton Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Aston Villa were on an eight-match winless run of form across all competitions until a much-needed victory against Brentford the other day and they will aim to build on that against struggling bottom-of-the-table opposition, Southampton, at Villa Park.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 7th December, 2024: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Peacock
Aston Villa Preview: Villains to Heroes
As mentioned, Aston Villa went into the midweek on the back of a dreadful couple of months but the hosts managed to end it with an impressive performance against Brentford. An excellent strike from Morgan Rogers, a penalty from Ollie Watkins as well as a Matty Cash strike gave them a 3-0 lead by half-time before Mikkel Damsgaard scored a consolation for the Bees in the second-half.
Unai Emery has had to deal with what does appear to be a small squad to be competing at the intense levels of mounting a top four push as well as UEFA Champions League football but they will hope the autumnal slump can now be put behind them as they welcome Southampton to the second-city.
Southampton Preview: Saints need a miracle
Russell Martin remains in charge of Southampton despite growing pressure with Saints adamant on sticking with his extreme possession-based style of football that simply costs them points, or at least goals, in nearly every game they play in the top-flight and that continued, once again, in midweek with a catalogue of defensive and possession-based errors.
The visitors welcomed a potentially title challenging Chelsea to St Mary’s and despite the Blues heavily rotating with seven changes to their starting eleven, they ran out 5-1 winners thanks to goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho. Saints have won one game and sit rock-bottom, conceding 30 goals in 14 matches so far this season.
Aston Villa Team News: No need to change
In his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend, Unai Emery has confirmed that Jacob Ramsey remains unavailable for the hosts due to a hamstring injury that he is suffering with.
Belgium international Amadou Onana could return to the side but, after finally getting themselves a victory, there would appear no reason to change a winning side, especially as changes are expected anyway for the trip to RB Leipzig in midweek.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Duran
Unavailable: Ramsey (Injured)
Questionable: Onana (Injured)
Southampton Team News: A few return but Stephens suspended
Southampton were depleted with injuries and suspensions in midweek but the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Tyler Dibling have returned. However, club captain Jack Stephens is now missing after being sent off against Chelsea for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella.
Jan Bednarek remains an injury doubt for the Saints but Onuachu is close to a return and appears expected to feature in the squad for this week's trip to the Midlands.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Lumley; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Bree, Manning; Fraser, Fernandes, Downes, Armstrong; Archer
Unavailable: Ramsdale (Injured), Bazunu (Injured), Stephens (Suspended), Smallbone (Injured), Lallana (Injured), Larios (Injured), Onuachu (Injured), Stewart (Injured)
Questionable: Bednarek (Fitness)
Aston Villa vs Southampton Prediction
Aston Villa were rampant in the first-half of their game against Brentford and will hope they have massively rebuilt their confidence. Southampton are a team that have showed throughout this season that they can walk into any trap a team sets and Unai Emery is a man who loves to set tactical traps. Villa will expect to make it back-to-back victories, especially with home advantage, and they will expect to make it back-to-back comfortable victories.
Aston Villa vs Southampton Tip: Aston Villa to win -1 handicap
