FULHAM – ASTON VILLA | Thursday, 20:30
Both are in the lower-middle of the Premier League table, but the one who fares worse is definitely Aston Villa. Yes, because if Fulham’s aim is to keep their category after regaining the top flight last year, the expectations on the Villans were completely different. And instead Steven Gerrard and his men after ten matches find themselves in seventeenth position, paired with Leeds and Wolverhampton and therefore in the relegation zone. Since August, the Birmingham outfit have scored just one win, beating Southampton 1-0. Then only draws and defeats. The latest came last weekend against Chelsea (0-2) at Villa Park, the result of a disastrous defensive performance.
The former Liverpool mainstay is at risk of being sacked: the odds on his eventual dismissal have plummeted in recent days. His colleague Marco Silva is sleeping soundly at the moment, despite the fact that Fulham have not won for three days. The Londoners were soundly beaten by Newcastle and West Ham and did not go beyond a draw against the other newly-promoted Bournemouth, but their position in the table – despite being very short, especially on the right-hand side – does not give cause for concern.
Fulham-Aston Villa: the prediction
Fulham should be able to avoid defeat in a match likely to be lively, with at least one goal on each side
Fulham-Aston Villa
likely line-ups
- FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Decordova-Reid, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; James, Pereira, Kebano; Mitrovic.
- ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1