A mid-table Premier League clash takes place at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon as 11th-placed Aston Villa play host to 12th-placed Crystal Palace.

While Unai Emery's side are seeking to avoid a third successive home defeat, Patrick Vieira's men are hoping to end a three-game winless run on the road.

Match preview

Following a run of three successive defeats and conceding 11 goals in the process – albeit two of those losses suffered against title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal – Aston Villa responded with a 2-0 victory away against Everton last weekend, with Ollie Watkins writing his name in the history books.

Indeed, the Englishman opened the scoring from the penalty spot just after the hour mark to become the first Villa player in Premier League history to score in five successive matches, before substitute Emiliano Buendia sealed the victory with a strike in the final 10 minutes.

Emery has seen his side score in all 11 Premier League games since his arrival at the end of October, winning six times during this run, and they have subsequently steered themselves away from a potential relegation scrap as they sit 10 points clear of the bottom three with a game in hand.

Aston Villa remain on course for their highest Premier League finish since securing ninth place in 2010-11, and they could end the weekend inside the top 10 with a victory over Crystal Palace, who have won only one of their last 10 top-flight trips to Villa Park.

However, securing three points on home soil has proven challenging for the Lions in recent weeks, as they have only won one of their last five Premier League games at Villa Park, while they have conceded a total of 19 league goals in front of their own fans so far this season, the joint-most along with basement club Southampton.

Crystal Palace are still seeking to claim their first victory of 2023 after failing to win any of their last nine matches across all competitions, with last weekend's goalless stalemate at home against Liverpool their fifth draw during this run.

The Eagles failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes at Selhurst Park, but Vieira will have taken positives from his side keeping a clean sheet, just their second in the last 12 top-flight matches.

Vieira and co will be required to start looking over their shoulders if their winless run continues, although a victory on Saturday could see them climb nine points clear of the drop zone with a game in hand.

Palace have reason to be optimistic heading to the West Midlands as they have already beaten Aston Villa this season, securing a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park back in August courtesy of a Wilfried Zaha brace and a strike from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The Eagles have scored a league-high 43% of their goals (nine out of 21) from set-pieces so far this season, and they will look to take advantage of Villa's woes from defending dead-ball situations as they have conceded 15 set-piece goals; only Bournemouth (19) have conceding more in this season's top flight.

Team News

Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos has returned to training following a lengthy spell out with an Achilles injury, but Saturday's game will come too soon for the Brazilian.

Philippe Coutinho (thigh) and Jed Steer (Achilles) both remain sidelined, while Robin Olsen (knock) is doubtful, although Emiliano Martinez – who was named the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper for 2022 this week – is expected to start between the sticks regardless of the Swede's availability.

After making an impact as a substitute last weekend, Buendia will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI, with either Leon Bailey or Jacob Ramsey potentially making way as a result.

As for Crystal Palace, Sam Johnstone (calf) and Nathan Ferguson (Achilles) are both still recovering from injury, but Vieira has confirmed that star attacker Wilfried Zaha will be in the squad on Saturday after missing the last four games with a hamstring problem.

A back four of Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell is set to remain intact, although the former could be at risk of losing his place at right-back to Joel Ward.

After failing to register a single shot on target last weekend, changes could be made in attack with Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze both pushing to start.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Buendia; Bailey, Watkins

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Lokonga, Eze; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha

We say: Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace

Aston Villa have conceded 15 goals in their last six home matches since the World Cup break, so Crystal Palace will fancy their chances of finding the net on Saturday.

However, the hosts have had few problems at the other end, and with in-form Watkins leading the line, we can see Emery's side coming away with maximum points.

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