On Sunday afternoon, Aston Villa will welcome West Ham, the only side in the Premier League at the moment without a goal or a point under their name. The Claret and Blue brigade have not had the best start to their Premier League campaign either. The win against Everton has been the only ray of shining light for the Birmingham outfit as they have lost the other two games, including one against newly promoted Bournemouth. Are top football betting tips experts forecasting another disappointing return from Aston Villa? Or are they expecting West Ham to open their Premier League account at Villa Park?
Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins gave Aston Villa a dream start at Selhurst Park. But, their lead against the hosts lasted only two minutes as Wilfried Zaha restored parity for the Eagles in the seventh minute. After a 1-1 score at the interval, Palace took the game away in the second half by exploiting Villa’s poor defending and adding two more goals to their name.
The defence has been the chink in Villa’s armour. They are yet to keep a clean sheet this season in all competitions. This is a problem that has been haunting Steven Gerrard’s side since last season. In their previous eight Premier League outings, Villa have conceded 1.97xGA per game. Despite fielding a strong squad, Villa failed to keep a shutout in the midweek against Football League One outfit Bolton Wanderers in an EFL Cup second-round tie.
Gerrard would consider himself unlucky to lose his marquee defensive signing, Diego Carlos, so early in the season. The Villa medics stretchered the Brazilian off the pitch during Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Everton after rupturing his Achilles tendon. He will not be available in the next 6/7 months. Kourtney Hause has handed a selection boost to Gerrard as the Watford loanee has returned to training and will be available to fill in at the Aston Villa backline.
West Ham
David Moyes’ West Ham started the season as potential history makers. If they finish in the top seven again, they would be the first West Ham side to finish top seven in the league for three consecutive seasons. Not even the iconic West Ham sides of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall can match that feat.
But the Hammers’ start to the season was far from ideal. They have lost all of their first three Premier League games, the latest of which came in a 2-0 home defeat to Brighton. Moyes has relied on a small group of players over the last two seasons, which finally seem to have left its mark on the side. West Ham lacked vigour and intent in their first three games, and they would need that to change drastically if they are to end their slump on Sunday.
Thilo Kehrer did not have a debut to remember as he conceded a penalty. But he will have to focus on the next match as Craig Dawson stays out with a thigh injury. Moyes will hope the potential return of Angel Ogbonna will bolster the defence. The West Ham boss has also confirmed that Vladimir Coufal is training despite picking up a concussion in the Brighton game. However, he will have to wait longer to see Nayef Aguerd in action for West Ham as he is not likely to recover from his ankle injury before the World Cup break.
Our Prediction
While most Premier League managers chose to rest their first XI in the midweek EFL Cup action, Steven Gerrard surprisingly named his first choice XI to play Bolton Wanderers. However, the fatigue issue might not be an issue since West Ham had to take a midweek trip to Denmark to play Viborg in UEFA Conference League qualifiers. Many of West Ham’s first XI players, including Kourt Zouma, Saïd Benrahma and Michail Antonio, were involved. The 3-0 away win could come as a revitalizing factor for West Ham, and they could finally break their duck to heap more misery on Aston Villa. We are going for a 3-2 West Ham win.
Our Tip
West Ham to win @ 3.33
