Aston Villa look to climb to the top of the Premier League table as they take on Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United at Villa Park.
Here’s the latest heading into this festive Friday night fixture…
Assistant Editor: Liam Davies
THE BUILD UP
Unai Emery’s side can perch themselves on top of the Premier League if they are to defeat The Blades tonight and can remain first for Christmas if results go their way during match-week 18, with the current top two, Liverpool and Arsenal, facing off against each-other at Anfield on Saturday evening.
The West-Midlands outfit enter tonightโs game on the back of last Sundayโs comeback victory over Thomas Frankโs Brentford.
Despite dominating for large spells in the first-half, the Villans found themselves a goal down at the break, with the Beesโ Keane Lewis-Potter firing home from an uncleared corner.
Following Ben Meeโs 71st minute dismissal, left-back รlex Moreno scored his first Premier League goal and Ollie Watkins, haunting his former club, bagged the winner in a game that concluded with plenty of drama and fight as midfielder Boubacar Kamara also saw red.
Villa look to continue their fine form and make it sixteen league wins in a row at Villa Park as they welcome bottom of the table Sheffield United to B6.
The Blades suffered their 13th defeat of the season last time out, with Mauricio Pochettinoโs Chelsea the latest to overcome Chris Wilderโs side.
Goals from Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson helped the Blues to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge as Unitedโs miserable campaign back in the top-flight continued.
Unai Emery is looking for his side to combat complacency and remain consist heading into tonightโs game on home soil, he said: โI have to try to keep the same motivation and the same preparation for the matches as we have been doing. I can remind them and myself of some matches we played before we started winning.
TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa will be without defender Pau Torres for todayโs game against the Blades.
The Spaniard, who was withdrawn in the 81st minute at the Gtech Community Stadium last weekend, has failed to train this week after suffering a knock and will play no part at Villa Park tonight.
Clรฉment Lenglet is in line to start tonight’s game in his place, Unai Emery has confirmed.
Also absent is Youri Tielemans who, after sustaining a small injury against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago, will be unavailable for at least another fortnight.
Fellow midfielder Boubacar Kamara is suspended following last weekโs late red card in West-London. The Frenchmen will also miss the Boxing Day visit of Manchester United and the final game of 2023 at home to Burnley.
Providing an update on the missing trio in yesterdayโs press conference, head coach Unai Emery said: โYouri Tielemans is out, Pau Torres is out tomorrow as well, as is Boubacar Kamara with the red card, he is suspended.โ
Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne both return to the fold following their respective yellow-card induced suspensions, while Bertrand Traorรจ, Emi Buendรญa and Tyrone Mings remain side-lined through injury.
The remainder of the squad, including the likes of Ezri Konsa, John McGinn and Leon Bailey are ready, have trained and are available for selection tonight.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Chris Wilder could be without as many as six players for this Friday night trip to the West-Midlands.
One of the confirmed absentees include defender Chris Basham who suffered a devastating ankle injury during October’s 3-1 defeat against Fulham. Despite the extent of the 35-year-old’s set-back, which saw Basham undergo two operations, the centre-half is expected to complete a comeback and will not be forced into retirement.
One of his partners at the back, John Egan, is also unavailable, with the Irishmen also side-lined for the majority of the season with an Achilles tendon issue. The 31-year-old defender limped off just after half-time during his side’s 2-0 defeat against West Ham at the London Stadium in late-September and is unlikely to play any further part this term.
Elsewhere, Jack Robinson is suspended having accumulated five yellow cards before this weekend’s reset point and offensive duo Rhian Brewster (hamstring) and Daniel Jebbison (muscle) are both absent with injury.
Full-back Rhys Norrington-Davies is close to returning from a hamstring injury after recently completing 45 minutes for the U21 side, but is not expected to feature tonight, while Tom Davies is out after sustaining a training injury a couple of months ago; the midfielder will miss a further two months as a result.
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A BIT ON SHEFFIELD UNITED
Sheffield United were promoted back to the Premier League as runners-up last season, after a two year absence from the top flight. Paul Heckingbottom was the man to achieve the feat, but following the Bladesโ dismal start to the term, where they have picked up just eight points from the opening 17 fixtures, the 46-year-old was sacked and replaced by his predecessor, Chris Wilder.
Wilder has overseen three games since his return to Bramall Lane; losing two (against Liverpool and Chelsea) and winning one. This victory, which was just Unitedโs second of the campaign, came against Thomas Frankโs Brentford in a game that saw James McAtee score his first goal of the season to earn a 1-0 win at home.
Representing Sheffield United is former Villan Cameron Archer who made the switch to the north in the summer for an estimated fee of ยฃ18.6 million (with a buy-back clause included in the contract). The 22-year-old forward is the clubโs joint top-scorer in the Premier League, tied with Ollie McBurnie and former Coventry City man Gustavo Hamer (on 2).
With the half-way stage in the season on the horizon, things look miserable for Wilder and his team with relegation likely. An away victory over Aston Villa would certainly make a statement and bring bags of confidence to the Sheffield United side, however.
And Unai Emery anticipates a tough affair. The 50-year-old head coach believes Sheffield United will be right up for the challenge of breaking the home streak and knows his team need to be on their A-game this evening.
Speaking on the latest side to visit fortress Villa Park, the head coach said: โWe respect them a lot. We are going to try to play being very demanding because they are with a new coach and their situation of being in the bottom of the table. They are going to be very motivated.
Will Aston Villa continue their superb winning run with victory over Sheffield United or can the Blades become the first side to defeat the Villans at home in the league since February and claim a big three points on the road?
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MY PREDICTED LINE-UP
Letโs take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture at Villa Parkโฆ
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