Aston Villa host Everton in the Premier League this weekend, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting line-up for the encounter could look.
Villa saw off Leicester City prior to the international break, and we’ll be looking to make it three wins in four games to start the campaign against the Toffees, who come into this fixture bottom of the table after a difficult start.
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Nevertheless, every game will be a challenge again this season, particularly as Emery must also find the right balance with our Champions League aspirations in mind, and with our European campaign getting underway on Tuesday evening, that could be an influence on his selection decisions this weekend.
There was good news from the Villa boss in his pre-match press conference on Friday as he confirmed that Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins are expected to be available despite their issues while on international duty with England, but it remains to be seen if both, or either, start on Saturday evening.
Right-back decision, no Bailey, will Konsa and Watkins start?
Emiliano Martinez is expected to continue between the posts, but there will be key decisions for Emery in our backline, predominantly on the right side with Matty Cash set to miss out, while time will tell if Konsa is fit enough to start.
Given we’re at home and playing against a side likely to sit back and dig in given their poor start and porous backline, could Kosta Nedeljkovic get the nod over Lamare Bogarde for this one?
The latter impressed prior to the break in his Premier League debut, but Nedeljkovic adds an attacking threat, energy and a dynamic to our play down the right side that could be key to helping to unlock a stubborn Everton defence.
If Konsa isn’t ready to start, Diego Carlos is hopefully healthy now and ready to step in, while Pau Torres and Lucas Digne are expected to complete the Villa back-four.
Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana’s midfield pivot partnership has been one of the biggest positives in our early-season form, and so it seems likely that Emery will leave that in place to help us impose ourselves on the game, get a foothold and control possession and tempo.
That said, with Leon Bailey seemingly a big doubt with a hamstring injury, there is the potential of Tielemans being pushed up into a more advanced role, with Ross Barkley possibly coming in to partner Onana after making a solid impression in a cameo appearance against Leicester.
It could be argued that the more likely option that Emery will go with is Jacob Ramsey replacing Bailey and John McGinn shifting over to the right side, with Morgan Rogers and Watkins completing our attacking quartet, thus leaving Tielemans to continue in a deeper role where he has flourished in our first few games.
Similarly to Konsa though, if Watkins is not deemed fit enough to start, Jhon Duran will be itching to get a chance in the Villa XI after making such a positive impact so far with two winning goals to his name, and so that will be another pivotal decision for Emery to make.
As noted above, there is also the factor of our Champions League clash with Young Boys next Tuesday evening to consider, and so that could impact Emery’s planning and see him rotate for this clash, and try to hold key individuals back for the midweek encounter.
Nevertheless, he’ll want to build fitness, sharpness, continuity and fluidity in the side, and so it would come as no surprise if the Villa boss goes with the strongest XI at his disposal and worries about the trip to Switzerland when the time comes.
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs Everton: Martinez, Nedeljkovic, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins.
Agree with the line-up above, or would you make changes?
