Aston Villa will play hosts to Fulham at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon as they look to pick up all three points at home. The Villans suffered a poor 2-0 loss away at Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, so they will be eager to return to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend.
Dean Smith will set his team up in a 4-3-3 formation once again and could welcome his captain Jack Grealish back for this game if he can recover in time from his calf injury. The English playmaker’s inclusion could mean that Trezeguet would drop to the bench.
4-3-3 Aston Villa Predicted Lineup To Face Fulham
Defence
Emiliano Martinez will operate in goal for the Villans after shipping in two goals versus Spurs in his last league outing. Ezri Konsa will resume his defensive partnership with Tyrone Mings at the centre of the Villans backline as they try to keep the Cottagers at bay throughout the game.
Matty Cash will function at right-back while Matt Targett fills in on the other side as Smith’s primary left-back. Both of them will get the license to get forward and help their teammates up top at every chance they get out on the wide areas.
Kortney Hause is a slight concern ahead of this game as he is still recovering from an ankle injury. If the English defender can pass a late fitness test, he will be named on the bench as a cover for the centre-back positions.
Midfield
Morgan Sanson, Douglas Luiz and John McGinn could make up the Aston Villa midfield as they try to gain some control at the centre of the park and engineer some promising goal-scoring chances in the final third.
Ross Barkley and Marvelous Nakamba will have to settle for a spot on the bench as they wait for their chance to shine in the second half if needed.
Attack
Jack Grealish will get the nod to play as a wide player on the left-wing if he can recover in time from his injury. Bertrand Traore will look to put his pace to good use from the right flank while Ollie Watkins once again leads the charge for the West Midlands outfit down the middle. The English striker needs a goal to boost his confidence, so this home game versus Fulham could be an ideal chance for him to get his name back on the scoresheet in the Premier League.