Unai Emery has selected his Aston Villa starting XI to face Leeds United in the Premier League
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has named his starting XI to face Leeds United this afternoon.
He has made seven changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Cup last weekend.
Emi Martinez returns to the starting XI, playing behind a back four of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen.
Amadou Onana partners Douglas Luiz in the double pivot, while Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia support striker Ollie Watkins.
Villa are targeting successive home league wins after beating Brighton last Wednesday.
Villa are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Leeds and are looking to complete the double over them for only the second time in the competition, having previously done so in 1999-2000.
Since the start of December, only Manchester City and Manchester United have lost fewer Premier League games than Leeds, although the Whites have recorded the most draws in that period.
Leeds, however, have won just one of their last 18 Premier League away games, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in September.
Despite being winless in their last 10 away matches, five of the last six have ended in draws, including a comeback from 2-0 down to draw at Chelsea last time out under Daniel Farke.
Villa starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Bailey, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Subs: Wright, Lindelof, Digne, Torres, Bogarde, Garcia, Barkley, Sancho, Abraham.
Leeds starting XI: Darlow, Bogle, Ampadu, Justin, Gudmundsson, Struijk, Rodon, Gruev, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Perri, Bornauw, Bijol, Tanaka, Longstaff, Nmecha, Gnonto, James, Piroe.
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