Aston Villa are keeping pace with the league's best and may look to mount a title charge.placeholder image
Aston Villa are keeping pace with the league's best and may look to mount a title charge. | Getty Images
How Aston Villa’s upcoming fixtures compare with their title rivals as the Villans’ stunning form continues
A second-half Morgan Rogers double meant Aston Villa kept the pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, with the Villans just three points off the top of the table with 16 matches played.
Villa’s record of ten league victories in 11 is nothing short of remarkable, and has seen them rise from the bottom three to within touching distance of the top. With a five-point buffer separating themselves in third from Chelsea and those below them, a three-horse title race is already being touted despite the fact we are still in December.
The West Midlands outfit will no doubt be aided by their January transfer business if that is to be the case, with some crunch fixtures on the way if they look to keep up their current form across the festive period.
Aston Villa’s next five fixtures vs title rivals
Aston Villa’s outstanding run has seen them beat almost anyone who has been put up against them, and that will be put to the test once again in what looks to be a tough set of upcoming fixtures for Emery’s side.
Manchester United travel to Villa Park next up on Sunday, with the Red Devils within touching distance of a top-four place themselves and building their own momentum ahead of a hoped return to Europe’s elite. Villa were defeated last time they faced the Red Devils, 2-0 at Old Trafford on the final day of last season, in the match which saw them miss out on the Champions League.
Following the visit of Ruben Amorim’s side, Villa travel to fourth-placed Chelsea after Christmas on December 27, looking to brush aside the effects of holiday season and secure even more daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. The Blues have been inconsistent in recent weeks but on their day are also capable of beating just about anyone.
On December 30, the crunch matches continue as Villa visit the Emirates for the re-match of their stunning 2-1 win over Arsenal earlier this month. Facing the league leaders twice in a month is a difficult feat and the Gunners will no doubt have something to prove, but victory would put the Villans well in the midst of a title race.
Heading into January, Villa host Nottingham Forest as they face Sean Dyche’s side for the first time this season with the Tricky Trees fighting hard to get away from relegation danger. A difficult midweek trip to Crystal Palace then follows just a few days later on January 7.
Arsenal and Man City’s next five matches over festive period
Villa’s results in their next five matches may go a long way towards proving their title credentials, but this also depends on any slip-ups from those above them as Arsenal and Manchester City continue to lead the way.
The Gunners travel to Everton next up, with the Toffees in the top half and in strong form, Mikel Arteta’s side then facing Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals before hosting Brighton in the league on December 27. Their crunch fixture against Aston Villa at the Emirates follows that to see out the year, before a tricky away trip to Bournemouth and mouth-watering home game against Liverpool follow to kick off 2026.
As for Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens, their own Carabao Cup contest against Brentford is next up on Wednesday, before they return to Premier League action at home to West Ham this weekend. An away trip to Nottingham Forest follows that, on a ground where they lost last season. City travel to Sunderland on New Year’s Day, before home fixtures against Chelsea and Brighton complete their next five.
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