Aston Villa will entertain Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon hoping to secure a positive result at home. The Villans are in real danger of being relegated if they fail to win this game so they will be desperate to come up with a positive response versus the Eagles this weekend following their disappointing 3-0 loss at the hands of Manchester United midweek.
Dean Smith might change his side’s shape and opt for a 4-3-1-2 formation which will give him the freedom to play Keinan Davis alongside Mbwana Samatta up top.
4-3-1-2 Aston Villa Predicted Lineup To Face Crystal Palace
Defence
Pepe Reina should continue in goal for the Villans despite shipping in five goals in his past two starts in the Premier League. Tyrone Mings was disappointing in midweek but should still keep his place alongside Kourtney Hause at the heart of Smith’s defence. Both centre-backs will have to put on a much-improved showing if they are to secure a clean sheet at the back this weekend.
Ezri Konsa will once again get a chance to shine at right-back, while Neil Taylor focusses on producing another hard-working display on the other side as the left-back. Matt Targett is still sidelined due to a hamstring injury, but Frédéric Guilbert should be fit enough to start on the Villa bench.
Midfield
Smith might choose to go with a midfield three of Marvelous Nakamba, Douglas Luiz and Conor Hourihane as they look to dominate the midfield battle so that they can restrict the Palace attackers from creating too many chances going forward.
Jack Grealish will play just ahead of them in the number ten position as an attacking midfielder as he tries to orchestrate some promising opportunities to score for the front players. John McGinn might be demoted to the bench for this game but could come on to feature in the second half if needed.
Attack
Mbwana Samatta could get the responsibility to lead the charge alongside Keinan Davis up top. Both Villa strikers will be desperate to get their names on the scoresheet but have failed to hit top geat in recent weeks since the return of Premier League football.
Trezeguet and Ahmed El Ghazi will have to be content with a place on Smith’s bench but might come on to influence the game if Smith decides to call upon their services.
