Unai Emery has selected his team to face Sunderland in the Premier League today
Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings
Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has named his starting XI to face Sunderland for this afternoon's Premier League clash at Villa Park.
He has made three changes from the side that beat Bologna 4-0 in the club's Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday, as Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley come into the team.
Emi Martinez starts in goal, behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Mings, and Maatsen.
Amadou Onana and Barkley will operate in a double pivot, while John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Morgan Rogers support striker Ollie Watkins.
Villa are targeting their third home win in a row in all competitions following previous wins over Bologna and West Ham.
They've lost just one of their last 13 league games against Sunderland, going down 3-1 at the Stadium of Light in January 2016.
The Black Cats haven't won any of their last six away league games against Villa. This is their first visit since a 2-1 loss in the Championship in November 2017, and their first in the Premier League since a 2-2 draw in August 2015.
Villa starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Barkley; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Buendia, Digne, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Bogarde, Bailey.
Sunderland starting XI: Roefs; O'Nien, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava; Sadiki, Xhaka; Rigg, Diarra, Le Fee; Brobbey.
Subs: Ellborg, Cirkin, Ballard, Geertruida, Talbi, Mayenda, Isidor, Hume, Jones.
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