Predicting Unai Emery’s Aston Villa lineup to take on Crystal Palace at home in the Premier League.
Aston Villa return to home soil this weekend as they play host to Crystal Palace on Sunday evening.
Unai Emery’s side have a point to prove following a hugely disappointing start to the new campaign. Villa lacked creativity and urgency in both of their opening fixtures, stuttering to a bore 0-0 draw with Newcastle United before an underwhelming 1-0 defeat away at Brentford.
Villa will have to make do without the injured Boubacar Kamara, but Ezri Konsa returns following his one-match suspension. Emery has tough choices to make in midfield as he attempts to find a solution to the lack of attacking threat. There will be revenge on the mind, too, after Palace won three of the four meetings between the two sides last season.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace
Without further ado, here’s the starting XI we reckon Emery will name against the Eagles.
GK - Emiliano Martinez: The World Cup winner has slotted straight back into the XI after his suspension and he’s expected to remain there, even despite Marco Bizot playing brilliantly on his debut.
RB - Matty Cash: Locked in and focused, Cash is ahead of Andres Garcia in the pecking order as it stands. The Poland international may have more competition if Villa decide to sign a new right-sided defender, but it’s his place for now.
CB - Ezri Konsa: Back from his ban, Konsa will head back into his usual role at right centre-back. Emery will be thankful to have a right-footed centre-half back available as the structure suffered against Brentford.
CB - Tyrone Mings: Probably Villa’s best player in a poor display last weekend, Mings should start again. Pau Torres, meanwhile, has been very lacklustre and should be benched.
LB - Ian Maatsen: Emery has preferred Lucas Digne to start the season but there’s a real argument that Maatsen should start instead as he offers more pace and drive down the left. It’s a tight call.
CM - Amadou Onana: With Kamara now out injured, Onana is probably the most like-for-like replacement. The Belgian hasn’t been in the best form but he at least replaces Kamara’s physicality.
CM - Youri Tielemans: Named Villa’s best player last season, Tielemans is undroppable. Talks are expected to be held over a new deal as Villa want to cement the Belgian’s status as one of the club’s most valuable assets.
RM - Donyell Malen: Following an impressive pre-season, Malen deserves to come into the XI, he’s just been ignored. Villa are clearly lacking pace on the right and Malen could offer that. Emery doesn’t seem to favour Malen, though, so it’s a doubt.
LM - Morgan Rogers: The England international is typically best in the attacking midfield position but he’s likely to be named as a left midfielder once again. Jacob Ramsey’s exit for Newcastle has left Villa light on this side.
CAM - John McGinn: Ineffective on the right in the opening two, there’s no doubting McGinn is better suited to playing in the number 10 role. The skipper’s hold-up play could be effective as he can spray passes wide to the speedy Rogers and Malen.
ST - Ollie Watkins: Villa’s number 11 struggled to make an impact against Newcastle and Brentford but we all know what he’s capable of. If the service improves, Watkins could end his hunt for a first league goal of the campaign.
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