Aston Villa predicted line-up vs West Ham United (4-2-3-1) | OneFootball

Aston Villa head to the London Stadium on Sunday carrying the momentum of an unstoppable force.

The Villains are on an eight-match winning streak across all competitions and have claimed victory in nine of their last 10 outings.

Five straight league wins have fired Villa into the Premier League title picture. They are six points adrift of leaders Arsenal heading into the clash with West Ham United.

The Villans will rightly be viewed as favourites in East London given their imperious form, but history still stands in their way.

Villa have not recorded consecutive away victories over West Ham since the 1995/96 season, a 29-year-old record they must break to keep the pressure on Arsenal.

Match preview

This Aston Villa run is unbelievable, despite what the expected goals believers say.

The current eight-game winning sequence is the club’s longest as a top-flight side in more than 110 years.

Unai Emery’s squad are just three victories short of equalling Villa’s all-time best run of 11 consecutive wins, set back in 1914.

No Premier League side has accumulated more away wins or more points on the road since the start of March.

Sunday’s trip is another opportunity to assert their credentials as genuine title contenders.

However, West Ham are desperate to pull themselves out of the relegation zone and will put up a serious fight.

The Hammers are also in decent form, considering they have lost only once in their last six (W2, D3).

Nuno Espirito’s record against Emery is even (W3, L3, D3), which will give him confidence that his side can secure a crucial result.

Match stats

Aston Villa lock horns with West Ham, with both form and history firmly on their side.

The Villains are unbeaten in their last six meetings with West Ham across all competitions, recording three victories and three draws in that run.

The Birmingham-based club has lost just once to the Hammers since 2021.

They have scored in every away league visit to face West Ham since 2016 and have never failed to find the net at the London Stadium across eight years.

Back-to-back away victories against West Ham have eluded the Villains since the 1995/96 campaign.

However, last season’s 2-1 win in the corresponding fixture offers encouragement.

Team news

Emery is expected to rotate following Thursday’s Europa League victory over FC Basel, but the core of his side should remain intact.

Emiliano Martinez should return between the posts after being rested in Europe.

Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa are expected to continue in defence, with Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen returning after being rested during the week.

Emery praised the Dutchman for making Villa faster and will be impressed with his recent form.

In midfield, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara are likely to anchor the engine room.

Villa’s 31-year-old captain, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans return to the starting XI after featuring from the bench in midweek.

Emiliano Buendia made a compelling case for a start after scoring the late winner against Arsenal last weekend.

Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins should once again lead the line as Villa’s Premier League focal point.

Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley remain sidelined through injury, while Harvey Elliott continues to be omitted.

Aston Villa predicted line-up (4-2-3-1)

Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen; Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana; Emiliano Buendia, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn; Ollie Watkins.