Aston Villa’s defence could face a very different challenge when Nottingham Forest arrive at Villa Park on Saturday.
Unai Emery’s side return to Premier League action after beating Club Brugge 3-2 in the Champions League, with Forest still searching for their first league victory of the season.
One of the biggest individual battles could involve Liam Delap.
Forest made the 23-year-old their £45million club-record signing in August after completing a permanent deal with Chelsea.
Delap has since moved quickly into Oliver Glasner’s plans and made his first Premier League start for Forest in last weekend’s goalless draw with Tottenham.
His physical approach could provide an important test for whoever Emery selects at centre-back.
Liam Delap brings physical threat to Aston Villa
Delap is not the type of striker who wants to spend an afternoon drifting away from defenders.
The 6ft 2in forward has openly discussed the aggressive side of his game since joining Forest.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Delap said: “I play at my best when I’m on that edge of being … being horrible.”
Glasner has encouraged exactly that.
The Forest manager wants Delap to use his physicality, power and finishing rather than asking him to completely change his natural game.
That fits the tactical structure Villa are preparing to face.
Our analysis of Nottingham Forest’s 3-4-2-1 system showed how Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye operated behind Delap against Tottenham.
Forest can therefore play directly into their striker before using runners around him to attack the second ball.
Villa cannot allow Delap to comfortably pin a centre-back and bring those players into the game.
Pau Torres faces a different defensive challenge
Emery already has a major decision to make at centre-back.
Pau Torres produced an excellent Champions League performance in Bruges, providing two assists as Villa finally discovered some attacking rhythm.
That has put him firmly in contention to retain his place, with our Aston Villa predicted XI against Nottingham Forestcurrently favouring Torres alongside Victor Lindelöf.
Delap would test a different part of Torres’ game.
Brugge allowed the Spaniard opportunities to step forward and dictate possession.
Against Forest, he could instead be asked to repeatedly compete for direct passes, track physical runs and defend second balls around the edge of Villa’s defensive third.
Tyrone Mings would provide another more physical option if Emery decides the matchup demands it.
Villa’s midfield protection will matter too.
João Gomes is suspended, as detailed in our latest Aston Villa team news before the Forest game, potentially leaving Boubacar Kamara with greater defensive responsibility.
Delap still looking for first Nottingham Forest goal
Delap’s Forest career remains at an early stage.
His debut came from the bench in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool, where his quick throw helped create the move which resulted in a Morgan Gibbs-White penalty.
He was then promoted into the starting XI against Tottenham.
The Guardian’s match data from Forest’s 0-0 draw confirms Delap led the line until Chris Wood replaced him after 74 minutes.
Forest managed 12 attempts but only one on target.
That lack of attacking output is part of a wider difficult start, with Forest arriving at Villa Park following their worst winless opening for 36 years.
Villa should nevertheless be wary of judging Delap solely on his first two appearances.
He scored 12 Premier League goals for relegated Ipswich in 2024/25 and Forest have invested heavily in making his strengths central to Glasner’s attack.
Villa have an excellent historical record in this fixture, with Nottingham Forest without a victory at Villa Park since 1994.
Keeping that run intact could depend partly on stopping Forest’s new £45m striker from imposing himself on Villa’s centre-backs.
