Aston Villa badge, Youri Tielemans
Aston Villa star Youri Tielemans (credit: Imago)
Declan Carr
Thu 28 November 2024 13:40, UK
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could be set to drop Youri Tielemans after what Paul Merson saw in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last Saturday.
Despite a winless run of seven matches in all competitions after the goalless stalemate with Juventus (27 November), the Villans sit eighth in the Premier League, just three points off of the top four.
The Belgian midfielder missed a penalty as Villa laboured to a draw at home to Palace (23 November) and will be hoping to bounce back against Chelsea this weekend.
However, in his weekly predictions for Sportskeeda, former Arsenal man Merson suggests that the 27-year-old and midfield partner Ross Barkley will struggle against the Blues after their performances against the Eagles, saying: “Youri Tielemans and Ross Barkley played as the two midfielders in that 2-2 draw.
“If they start against Chelsea, Cole Palmer will find a lot space to operate in. Both Tielemans and Barkley are more ball-playing midfielders than the ones that can shut down Palmer.”
Aston Villa need Tielemans and Barkley to step-up and stop Palmer
As Merson claims, Cole Palmer could be a huge threat against Emery’s side and Tielemans and Barkley need to step up against the Blues.
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Tielemans was solid in an attacking sense against Palace with a 91 per cent passing accuracy, three chances created and 16 passes into the final third, although he did have a poor 40 per cent accurate long ball rate and a 43 per cent accurate cross rate. [Fotmob]
Meanwhile, Barkley impressed against the Eagles, he scored a 77th-minute equaliser, had four touches in the opposition box and five passes into the final third, however, he did only manage a 79 per cent passing accuracy.
Aston Villa Youri Tielemans
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans [Credit: Imago]
Defensively, Tielemans made nine recoveries but only won two of four ground duels and the same amount of aerial duels, giving him a 50 per cent success rate for both.
Meanwhile, Barkley won 100 per cent of his two aerial duels and his four ground duels and made three recoveries.
Tielemans’ poor defensive display against Palace could see him dropped from the starting XI as Villa seek to arrest their winless run.
In other Aston Villa news, a BBC pundit was stunned by what ‘extraordinary’ Ollie Watkins did against Juventus.
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