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Aston Villa welcome West Ham to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon in the day’s only Premier League match. Both clubs have enjoyed good starts to the new season so will be looking forward to the challenge of facing each other on Sunday before they both participate in European action on Thursday. The match will start at 16:30 UK time and fans can watch it live on Sky Sports.
Aston Villa vs West Ham predicted lineups
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Aston Villa vs West Ham Premier League team news
Aston Villa
While much of the focus of the Italian football gambling scandal has been on Sandro Tonali, Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo has also been caught up in it. The club released a statement earlier in the week stating that while Zaniolo was assisting authorities on the case, he is still training as normal and will be available for selection for the match against West Ham.
While Zaniolo is available for the match, Unai Emery is still without several other important first team players. Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings remain out, and will be for the rest of the season, while Jacob Ramsey is still no closer to returning to the fold with an ankle problem. Left back, Alex Moreno, is the closest injured player to being fit but the Spaniard isn’t ready quite yet.
Emiliano Martinez was in action for Argentina earlier in the week and despite the long travel back to the Midlands, he is expected to start in goal for Villa. Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Ollie Watkins will be looking to build on the goal he scored for England during the international break.
Aston Villa predicted lineup
Martinez – Cash, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne – Luiz, Kamara, McGinn -Diaby, Watkins
West Ham
David Moyes will be the envy of Unai Emery in that the Scot currently has no long-term injury concerns in his ranks. The only doubts surround the availability of Ben Johnson and Aaron Creswell who are nursing a groin injury and hamstring injury respectively.
Moyes will also have to make a call on Mexico’s Edson Alvarez and Jamaica’s Michail Antonio. Both players were in action halfway across the world in the middle of the week and they will have been assessed by the West Ham medical team on their return. Lucas Paqueta, meanwhile, didn’t feature for Brazil so is more likely to start the match at Villa Park.
If Antonio isn’t risked from the start, then Mohammed Kudus could be in line for a start. The ex-Ajax man scored his first Premier League goal against Newcastle last time out and will feel he has done enough to start the match.
West Ham predicted lineup
Areola – Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson – Soucek, Ward-Prowse – Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma – Kudus
Featured duel: Watkins vs Zouma
Ollie Watkins has been in fine form this season, scoring four goals and providing four assists in eight Premier League matches. Watkins is superb at stretching defences with his pace while his dribbling ability also pushes team back towards their own penalty box.
In Kurt Zouma, Watkins will be facing someone who is able to match him stride for stride. The ex-Chelsea man is one of the quickest centre-backs in the league and will relish the opportunity to get physical with Watkins. This is a duel to keep an eye on from the first minute.
Aston Villa vs West Ham predicted lineups – The final word
Both clubs are in good shape so far this season which makes this a fascinating match on paper. Given Aston Villa’s home record under Unai Emery, though, we are leaning towards a narrow victory for the Villains. We are going for Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham.
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