Aston Villa look to secure a place in Europe for next season as they host Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park this Sunday. Here’s the latest heading into the final match-day of the season…
THE BUILD UP
Three points is enough to secure seventh place and a spot in the Europa Conference League next year for Unai Emery’s side, but they must get the better of Roberto De Zerbi’s high-flying Seagulls or match/better both Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford’s results to do so.
The Villans sit seventh in the Premier League on 58 points heading into the season finale and have Ryan Mason’s Spurs (eighth on 57 points) and Thomas Frank’s Bees (ninth on 56 points) breathing down their neck.
Last time out, Villa earned a point on the road as the claret and blue outfit drew with Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Anfield. Despite Ollie Watkins side-footing a penalty wide in the 22nd minute, the away side led at the break thanks to Jacob Ramsey’s back-post finish; a goal that marked his 100th appearance for the club.
The Reds saw more of the ball in the second-half and had a goal chalked off after a VAR check around the hour mark, before Roberto Firmino bagged a leveller off the bench in the 89th minute, commemorating his final home game at Liverpool.
After a tense finish that saw ten minutes of additional time – and 110 minutes played in total – Jonathan Brooks eventually brought the game to a close. This result leaves it in Villa’s hands heading into this weekend’s final game at B6 after Spurs lost 3-1 at home to Brentford in Saturday’s early kick-off.
As for this week’s opponents, Brighton, they enter this weekend’s contest having played twice in the space of seven days. Sunday saw the Seagulls see off the Saints at the Amex Stadium and guarantee European football for next season, thanks to goals from Evan Ferguson (2) and Pascal Groß.
The Seagulls then hosted the Champions Manchester City on Wednesday night – a game that ended Pep Guardiola’s side’s 12-game winning run in the league after a 1-1 draw. Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 25th minute for the visitors, before Julio Enciso equalised moments later with what looks to be a goal of the season contender. Following these two results, Brighton cement their play in sixth in the table on a club record 62 points and have guaranteed Europa League action for next term.
It was Unai Emery’s maiden away game in charge of Aston Villa when these two sides last met in the Premier League. The game finished 2-1 in favour of the away side on the south-coast, despite the Villans going behind inside a minute after a defensive mishap left Alexis Mac Allister through on goal. Goals either side of half-time from Danny Ings’ helped Villa on their way to a spectacular win on the road and made it two wins from two to begin Emery’s reign.
This weekend’s fixture is one of the biggest in Villa’s recent history as a place in Europe beckons. Can Unai Emery top off an incredible first season back in the Premier League by securing a spot in the Europa Conference League or will Roberto De Zerbi’s men spoil the party and find victory on the road?
TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa are set to be without full-back Álex Moreno for the all important game at Villa Park this Sunday. The Spaniard replaced Lucas Digne in the 53rd minute at Anfield, but was withdrawn just 12 minutes later after suffering a hamstring injury while defending a dangerous Liverpool attack.
Speaking on the number fifteen’s condition after Saturday’s game, Unai Emery said: “Moreno as well but I think he’ll be more difficult to be ready. It’s a small injury but I don’t think he’ll be available for Sunday.” Lucas Digne is expected to be okay for the game, however, and is in line for another start.
The Basque boss also provided an update on defender Diego Carlos who missed the trip to Merseyside last week. On the Brazilian, Emery said: “Diego Carlos as well had a small injury. We don’t know if we can get him available for next week [against Brighton].”
Calum Chambers was another name to miss the draw with Klopp’s Reds, but the 28-year-old defender is expected to return to the match-day squad this weekend. The Englishman was absent at Anfield through illness but has trained this week and will be back to face De Zerbi’s Seagulls.
Elsewhere, Philippe Coutinho and Jed Steer both remain unavailable.
BRIGHTON
Roberto De Zerbi could be without as many as six players heading into the season finale at Villa Park this weekend, including talisman Solly March. Brighton’s number seven has missed the previous four fixtures in the Premier League after suffering a hamstring injury during the 5-1 defeat against Everton at the beginning of May.
Shortly after the loss at the Amex, Roberto De Zerbi revealed that he was ‘unsure’ if the 28-year-old winger would play again this season and is therefore considered a doubt for Sunday’s bout against Emery’s men.
Also expected to miss the upcoming fixture is youngster Jeremy Sarmiento and veteran Adam Lallana. Sarmiento, one of Brighton’s Ecuadorian talents, has missed the last couple of months with an ankle injury, whilst Lallana is unavailable with a thigh injury picked up during the 2-2 stalemate with Leicester in January.
Full-back Tariq Lamptey, midfielder Jakub Moder and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez are all currently sidelined too. Lamptey, who has featured 26 times across all competitions, and Moder, who has played 20 times for the Poland national team, are both out with knee problems, while Spanish international Sánchez is ‘left at home’ amid transfer rumours and reports stating that the shot-stopper could leave this summer.
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A BIT ON BRIGHTON
2022/23 TRANSFERS
IN: Pervis Estupiñán (£15.4 million), Julio Enciso (£10 million), Billy Gilmour (£7.2 million), Simon Adingra (£6.9 million), Facundo Buonanotte (£5.2 million), Yasin Ayari (£3.4 million), Levi Colwill (loan).
OUT: Marc Cucurella (£56.7 million), Yves Bissouma (£25.3 million), Leandro Trossard (£20.8 million), Neal Maupay (£10.2 million), Leo Østigard (£4.3 million), Matt Clarke (£2.2 million), Florin Andone (loan), Aaron Connolly (loan), Steven Alzate (loan).
STYLE OF PLAY
Under Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton have been one of the most enjoyable teams to watch this season in the Premier League. Following Graham Potter’s departure in September, the Italian head coach, who has previously managed the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo, has transformed the south-coast side into one of the most exciting and tactically-efficient teams in Europe.
The 43-year-old has instilled a dominating, possession-based and high intensity pressing style since his arrival – a system that each member of the squad has taken to and excelled under. This style has helped Brighton on their way to victories against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and many other top teams, and the Seagulls are among those – including both Newcastle United and Aston Villa – looking to break the mold and challenge the integrity of the typical Premier League ‘big-six’.
Albion have gained a lot of plaudits this season and just a few weeks ago, Pep Guardiola described De Zerbi’s side as ‘the best in the world at playing out from the back’. Jürgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta have also been full of praise for their managerial counterpart, describing De Zerbi as ‘very influential’. Unai Emery, I’m sure, is an admirer too, and this Sunday presents itself as a good test for the Spaniard in what is set to be a good tactical battle at Villa Park.
SEASON BY NUMBERS
RECORD: 18W, 8D, 11L.
TOP SCORERS: Alexis Mac Allister (10), Pascal Groß (9), Solly March & Kaoru Mitoma (7).
TOP ASSISTERS: Pascal Groß & Solly March (7), Pervis Esupiñán & Kaoru Mitoma (5).
GOAL DIFFERENCE: +20 (71 scored, 51 conceded).
BIGGEST VICTORY: Brighton & Hove Albion 6-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers [29/04/23].
BIGGEST DEFEAT: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-5 Everton [08/05/23].
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MY PREDICTED LINE-UP
Let’s take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture…
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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