Aston Villa vs Wolves Preview: Team News & Prediction
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West midlands rivals Aston Villa and Wolves are experiencing very different seasons ahead of their meeting at Villa Park on Sunday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – nbc.com
Aston Villa preview: Strong form
Aston Villa are going well on all fronts right now having put together a four-game winning run in all competitions, most recently beating Young Boys 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening thanks to a Donyell Malen double.
A brace, this time from Morgan Rogers, gave them a come-from-behind victory at Leeds last weekend, and they find themselves in a strong position in the Premier League table right now.
Wolves preview: Edwards with a huge job on his hands
Rob Edwards' first match in charge of Wolves resulted in a 0-2 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend, and the strugglers are looking every bit a relegated side right now.
They are the only team in the division yet to register a league victory this season, but if ever there was a good time to break that duck, it would be against their west midland rivals.
Aston Villa team news: Only one missing
Emery has managed to recoup most of his injured players in recent weeks, with Tyrone Mings now the only absentee in the Villa camp.
With Ollie Watkins having failed to score for Villa since September, Malen is knocking on the door for a Premier League start with the Dutchman looking a bigger goal threat right now.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Buendia; Rogers, Malen
Unavailable: Mings (Injured)
Questionable:
Wolves team news: Doherty unlikely
Although he has returned to training, Matt Doherty is unlikely to make the squad, although Edwards stopped short of completely ruling him out.
What is certain, though, is that Daniel Bentley, Leon Chiwome and Rodrigo Gomes will play no part in this fixture.
Predicted XI (5-3-2): Sa; Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci, Toti, Wolfe; Munetsi, Andre, J. Gomes; Strand Larsen, Arokodare
Unavailable: Bentley (Injured), Chiwome (Injured), R. Gomes (Injured)
Questionable: Doherty (Injured)
Aston Villa vs Wolves prediction
Form can often fly out of the window when it comes to derby matches, but it is difficult to envisage anything other than a Villa win on Sunday.
Wolves have simply not got going this season, and Rob Edwards is still settling into his role after replacing Vitor Pereira earlier in the month.
Villa are doing a good job of juggling domestic and European football, and we see them as firm favourites in this one. For extra value, consider backing the hosts to be leading the match at the end of both halves.
Aston Villa vs Wolves tip: Double result – Aston Villa / Aston Villa
