Overview
Aston Villa ended their eight-game winless run with a 3-1 win over Brentford in midweek, with Unai Emery's side dominating their opponents.
The Villa Park home team scored 3 goals in the first half and played quite comfortably in the rest of the match. This result helped Aston Villa relieve pressure after a series of poor performances recently.
Aston Villa will have the chance to continue to improve their record when they only have to face Southampton. Coach Russell Martin's team is at the bottom of the Premier League this year, having lost 11 matches after 14 rounds. In the match in the middle of the week, they were defeated 1-5 by Chelsea despite playing at home.
Aston Villa have conceded 23 goals in 14 games, the second worst record among the 10 teams in the top half of the Premier League this season. However, that is not a concern for the upcoming match, because Southampton have the worst attack in the league, with only 11 goals scored in 14 games, and also the second worst defense in the league, with 30 goals conceded.
Overall, Southampton will find it difficult to get points away from Villa Park. Even in their recent difficult period, Aston Villa have not suffered a defeat at home. And with their confidence back, Aston Villa can create a rain of goals against Southampton.
Aston Villa have won all three of their last Premier League meetings, and it is also worth noting that Villa have kept a clean sheet in all three of those victories.
Human resources situation
Emery is likely to stick with the same line-up that beat Brentford at Villa Park in midweek, with injured pair Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey unlikely to return.
On the other side of the front line, Southampton will be without defender Jack Stephens after receiving a straight red card in the match against Chelsea. However, midfielder Flynn Downes will return after serving his suspension.
Expected lineup:
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Bailey, Rogers, McGinn, Watkins.
Southampton: Lumley, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Fraser, Aribo, Downes, Manning, Dibling, Fernandes, Archer.
The match between Aston Villa and Southampton takes place at 22:00 on December 7 (Vietnam time).
