Bottom of the table Southampton take on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, and you can find the latest team news and predicted lineups below, as well as a score prediction alongside our preview.
Aston Villa vs Southampton Preview
Ollie Watkins and co. of Aston Villa welcome bottom of the table Southampton to Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, where they’ll be hoping to build on a 3-1 win over Brentford last time out.
The Villans were without a victory in eight successive matches prior to Wednesday’s win over the Bees, in which Morgan Rogers, Watkins and Matty Cash chipped in with a goal apiece in the opening 34 minutes.
Unai Emery’s side boast 22 points after recording six victories, four draws and four losses across their opening 14 league matches this term, a return that sees them sit in eighth place, just four points adrift of the top four.
In the gym 🏋️ pic.twitter.com/7BETcOxPer
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 5, 2024
Meanwhile, the Saints are down in 20th, seven points from safety after managing just one league win so far this term. That victory came in the form of a 1-0 triumph over Everton in early November, and they have since earned just one point, losing three and drawing one across their last four matches.
Last time out, they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at home against high-flying Chelsea after they were reduced to 10-men as Jack Stephens was shown his marching orders, for the second time this season, for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
Saturday’s meeting will be the first time that the pair have faced off since Southampton’s 2022/23 relegation season, when Aston Villa did the double over the south coast club with back-to-back 1-0 victories.
Aston Villa Team News
The hosts remain without Jacob Ramsey, who is sidelined for the next couple of weeks due to a hamstring injury, and Belgium international Amadou Onana may also miss out as he continues to nurse a foot injury.
Changes are likely given the short turnaround from GW14 to GW15, as well as from the latter to their Champions League clash against RB Leipzig on Tuesday, so there could be returns to the lineup for the likes of Pau Torres, Ross Barkley and Jaden Philogene.
Jhon Duran, Emiliano Buendia, Diego Carlos and Ian Maatsen are also options available at Emery’s disposal.
Southampton Team News
As for the visitors, their absentee list remains an incredible extensive one, with all of Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Ross Stewart (calf), Aaron Ramsdale (hand), Adam Lallana (thigh), Will Smallbone (thigh), Juan Larios (unspecified) and Stephens (suspended) ruled out of the trip to Villa Park.
There are also concerns over Jan Bednarek (knee) and Paul Onuachu (knock), who are reported as doubts.
In more positive news, the Saints are able to welcome back previously suspended trio Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tyler Dibling, as well as Lesley Ugochukwu, who was ineligible to face his parent club last time out.
Aston Villa vs Southampton Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Philogene, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins
Southampton Predicted Lineup:
Lumley; Bree, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Manning; Dibling, Fernandes, Downes, Armstrong; Archer
Aston Villa vs Southampton Prediction
Despite their underwhelming form in recent weeks, we believe the Villans have more than enough in their locker to overcome a struggling Southampton side at home on Saturday.
The UK’s best football betting sites are heavily favouring Villa to prevail, which comes as no surprise given both sides’ most recent league outing, and we’re backing a comfortable victory for the home side as they look to gain some momentum heading into the busy festive period.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Southampton
