Aston Villa will put their five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League on the line when they visit Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
The Villans looked leggy in their goalless draw with Manchester United before the October international break but Unai Emery will hope his squad has been reinvigorated over the past two weeks as they seek to establish themselves as top-four regulars.
Hosts Fulham, meanwhile, were one of the form sides of the division prior to their visit to Manchester City. The Cottagers were beaten 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium but had chances to take more from the match and will have plenty of confidence ahead of this encounter.
Here’s 90min’s preview of this weekend’s meeting between Fulham and Villa.
What time does Fulham vs Aston Villa kick-off?
Fulham vs Aston Villa H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
How to watch Fulham vs Aston Villa on TV and live stream
Fulham team news
Marco Silva has been dealt an injury blow with midfielder Sasa Lukic now sidelined, while Timothy Castagne also returned from Belgium duty with a knock and is unlikely to play on Saturday. Carlos Vinicius and Jorge Cuenca remain unavailable.
Raul Jimenez has regained the starting striker spot from Rodrigo Muniz and is unlikely to relinquish it this weekend, though the Brazilian did strike in the defeat at the Etihad Stadium in their most recent fixture.
Fulham predicted lineup vs Aston Villa
Fulham predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Cairney; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez.
Aston Villa team news
Unai Emery has been boosted by the news of Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings’ returns from injury, with both available again after long absences. Mings both ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and took knee cartilage damage in August last year, while Kamara has recovered from his own ACL blow.
Almost the whole Villa squad is available for the trip to Craven Cottage with the exception of backup goalkeeper Robin Olsen, with John McGinn and Ezri Konsa both returning to training.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Fulham
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
Fulham vs Aston Villa score prediction
Fulham‘s forward-thinking approach was clear to see in their brave defeat to Man City before the international break, with their poor finishing arguably costing them a draw or perhaps even a famous win.
Villa, on the other hand, looked leggy in their dull draw with United but have been able to welcome back some key stars from injury. Emery’s squad should be well rested as they search for a fifth league win of the season.
The Cottagers tend to pick up most of their points at home, but Villa are a fearsome unit and may inflict a first home defeat of the season upon Silva’s outfit.
