Aston Villa will play hosts to Wolves at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon hoping to pick up a positive result in the West Midlands derby. The Villans will come into this clash on the back of a hard-fought 1-1 draw versus Newcastle United in midweek. However, it will be a tough ask for them as Wolves are currently fighting for a European spot in the top half of the Premier League standings.
Dean Smith will opt for a 4-5-1 formation and might choose to go with Keinan Davis to lead the charge up top in the West Midlands derby. The home side could potentially get themselves out of the relegation zone if they can pull an upset, so Smith will instruct his players to give it their best shot when Wolves come to town later this week.
4-5-1 Aston Villa Predicted Lineup To Face Wolves
Defence
Orjan Nyland will once again operate in between the sticks for the Villans despite failing to keep a clean sheet in his past two league starts. Kortney Hause will partner Tyrone Mings at the heart of Smith’s defence as they look to keep things tidy at the back on Saturday.
Ahmed Elmohamady could get the nod to play at right-back following his match-saving cameo off the bench versus the Magpies in midweek. Matt Targett will operate on the other side as the left-back hoping to produce a productive display down the left flank.
Ezri Konsa might be relegated to the bench after his lacklustre display away at Tyneside earlier this week.
Midfield
Marvelous Nakamba could get a start as the main anchorman in the Villans midfield while both John McGinn and Douglas Luiz focus on working hard to win the ball back alongside him at the centre of the park. Jack Grealish will carry most of the creative burden for Villa on the left, and Anwar El Ghazi could get another chance to impress as a right-winger.
Both Trezeguet and Conor Hourihane will have to settle for a spot on the bench but might get an opportunity to feature in the second half if required.
Attack
Keinan Davis was rested in midweek, so he should be fresh from leading the charge for the home side down the middle. Mbwana Samatta was disappointing against Newcastle and can expect to be named on the bench for this upcoming West Midlands derby at Villa Park.
