How Aston Villa's next five Premier League fixtures match up with rival clubs.placeholder image
How Aston Villa's next five Premier League fixtures match up with rival clubs. | AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa’s next five Premier League fixtures compared to Chelsea, Manchester United and more
Aston Villa lay just a single point off the top four as we reached the third international break of the season so far.
Villa face three of the Premier League’s bottom five in their next five matches. A trip to Leeds United is next up, before a West Midlands derby at home to Wolves. Emery’s men then travel to Brighton on December 3, before hosting league leaders Arsenal three days later in a packed fixture list. West Ham United are next up, as Villa travel to the London Stadium.
How Villa’s fixtures compare to Chelsea and UCL rivals
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea currently sit third in the league table, and will look to strengthen their grip on a Champions League place ahead of Christmas. A trip to Burnley is next for the Blues, before they are at home to Arsenal and away at Leeds. A trip to Bournemouth follows that, before a home match against Everton sees out their next five.
Astoundingly in the top four at this stage of the season, newly-promoted Sunderland have shown their value for the position with a recent victory at Stamford Bridge and draw at home to Arsenal.
They face Fulham away next, before a home match against Bournemouth and a trip to faltering Liverpool at Anfield. Manchester City away from home follows that, before the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light on December 14. The Black Cats will hope to keep hold of striker Wilson Isidor in January amidst Aston Villa interest.
Currently just about in the top five - which are expected to be the Champions League places for next season - are Tottenham Hotspur, whom Aston Villa beat 2-1 away from home last month. Spurs face Arsenal in the North London Derby next, before they play Fulham (H), Newcastle (A), Brentford (H) and Nottingham Forest (A).
Fixtures next up for Man Utd, Liverpool and further European challengers
Below Villa on goal difference are Manchester United, Liverpool and Bournemouth, who will both hope to return to winning ways in the coming weeks. United face Everton at Old Trafford next, before subsequent matches against Crystal Palace (A), West Ham (H), Wolves (A) and Bournemouth (H). They then travel to Villa Park on December 21.
While Liverpool are up against Nottingham Forest at Anfield after the international break. They then face West Ham (A), Sunderland (H), Leeds (A) and Brighton (H), in what the Reds will feel is a kind fixture list as they look to return to form.
Currently sat in ninth place are Bournemouth, who have lost twice in a row to see their blossoming Champions League hopes given a blow. While the top five was always going to be a tough task for the Cherries, they will hold out hope for challenging for Europe this season. Their next five matches are against West Ham (H), Sunderland (H), Everton (A), Chelsea (H) and Man United (A).
Seeing out the top ten are Crystal Palace, who have seen outstanding early-season form slow down in recent weeks in a similar fashion to Bournemouth. The Eagles lie just a point behind Villa, though, and play Wolves (A) next. Man United (H) follows that, before Burnley (A), Fulham (A) and Man City (H). By the time each of the Premier League’s leading European contenders play their next five fixtures, we will get a far clearer picture of which clubs are set to sustain their early challenges.
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