MY ACCOUNT
– Aston Villa have scored in each of their last 11 Premier League games
– Crystal Palace have not won any of their last eight league matches
– Recommended bet: Aston Villa to win and both teams to score
Two teams that are sat side-by-side in the Premier League meet on Saturday, when Aston Villa and Crystal Palace go head-to-head.
It is11th versus 12th at Villa Park, and a win for the hosts could see them move into the top half of the Premier League table.
Villa come into the clash looking for back-to-back victories, while Palace head to the Midlands without a win in their last nine matches.
Team news
The home team are expected to be without Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho, who missed last weekend’s 0-2 win at Everton due to a thigh injury.
Unai Emery has suggested the former Barcelona and Liverpool man might not be back in action until April, following the next international break.
Although Diego Carlos is back in training following a five-month absence, Saturday’s game is likely to come too soon for the Villa defender’s first-team return.
Palace have no fresh injury concerns to report, but they could be boosted by the return of Wilfried Zaha.
The Eagles ace missed all four games in February but has recovered from a hamstring problem and has been back in training over the last week.
The stats
Villa are arguably the most unpredictable team in the top flight, with four wins, three defeats and one draw in their last eight league games.
Unai Emery’s men, though, have been looking much better from an attacking perspective, with Villa having scored in each of their last 11 Premier League matches.
The head-to-head stats also favour Villa, with the hosts unbeaten against Crystal Palace at Villa Park since 2013, five games in total.
Only four teams in the league have a worse scoring record than Palace this season, with the Eagles having bagged just 21 goals to date and have bagged just four times in the last eight league games.
There is still the prospect of Palace being dragged into the relegation battle, especially considering their upcoming fixtures.
After Saturday’s clash, Patrick Vieira’s squad face fixtures against three of the top eight teams, Manchester City, Brighton and Arsenal.
The predictions
Villa look to be heading in the right direction under Emery, and belief in their camp will be much higher than that in the Palace dressing room.
It is worth noting, though, that the hosts have kept just two clean sheets in 13 competitive Villa Park outings this season, whilst Palace have found the net in three of their last four away games.
Both teams have scored in each of the last four games between the two sides, with Ollie Watkins, who has nine goals this term, scoring in the previous two meetings.
Back Aston Villa to win and Both to score at 10/3 with LiveScore Bet.
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