- Aston Villa take on Fulham on Saturday for a 12:30 kick-off
- They currently sit in fourth place on 58 points, eight more than Brighton in sixth
- Two more wins would secure them Champions League football
Aston Villa will be looking to take another step forward towards Champions League qualification when they travel to London to face Fulham on Saturday. Two more wins in the Premier League will confirm their participation in Europe’s elite competition next season.
Last weekend, Unai Emery’s side snatched a late winner, courtesy of Tammy Abraham, to beat Sunderland 4-3.
Although cruising for most of the second half, two mistakes by Jadon Sancho caused the Black Cats to score two in two minutes, which stunned the Villa faithful.
Luckily for Sancho, after a superb stop by Emi Martinez, denying Habib Diarra the chance of a winner, the Villans countered quickly, before Abraham flicked Lucas Digne’s cross to send Villa Park into raptures.
It was their fifth win in six games in all competitions, and has strengthened their position inside the top five. After Chelsea’s consecutive defeats, the Blues now drop outside the top six, making way for Bournemouth and Brighton.
As Villa are also three points clear of Liverpool in fifth, with only five games to go, they are well on their way to returning to the Champions League.
Will Unai Emery make changes with Europe in mind?
On Thursday next week, 1,699 Villans will make the 50-mile trip to the City Ground for the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals. Given the significance of the occasion, will Emery make some changes with that in mind?
Recent history has told us that the Spaniard does not think in that way. He focuses on one match at a time, and has repeatedly reiterated that the Premier League is the priority. With that in mind, it’s unlikely he will make major changes for their fixture against Fulham.
Ollie Watkins, who is in fine form, having scored six goals in his last five appearances, should lead the line, with Morgan Rogers fulfilling the left-hand side.
The 23-year-old looked far more effective on the left in the game against Sunderland than he has done recently in the No 10 position. This would potentially leave a question mark as to who will operate in that role.
Ross Barkley has been favoured, starting the last four in the No 10; however, in his last two, he has failed to make as much of an impact.
Emi Buendia could therefore come in, or John McGinn could shift over from the right, with Sancho taking his place.
The midfield pivot of Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana will likely remain, leaving the back four likely facing potential changes.
Pau Torres was rested last weekend, so he could come back in for Tyrone Mings, while Lucas Digne could return ahead of Ian Maatsen. The Frenchman has started the majority of games in the last month, despite the left-back position being one Emery changes frequently.
Aston Villa predicted lineup: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Barkley, Rogers, Watkins
