A captivating clash of the Clarets should be in store during Sunday's solitary Premier League fixture, as Aston Villa welcome West Ham United to the West Midlands.

Both sides gleaned a single point from their pre-international break fixtures, as Unai Emery's side drew 1-1 with neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers, while David Moyes's team shared the spoils in a four-goal thriller with Newcastle United.

Match preview

So often the finisher rather than the creator - as evidenced by his terrific treble in a 6-1 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion last month - Ollie Watkins instead laced up his playmaking boots to ensure that Villa avoided a surprise beating at Molineux two weekends ago.

There was no way through for either side in the first 45 minutes of that West Midlands derby, but Hwang Hee-chan's fifth goal of the season propelled Wolves into a slender lead, until Watkins teed up centre-back Pau Torres to wipe out their advantage only two minutes later.

A Europa Conference League hangover was evident for Emery's team, who left it very late indeed to sink Zrinsjki Mostar 1-0 in between their destruction of Brighton and stalemate with Wolves, but that first draw of the season kept the Lions in fifth place heading into the hiatus.

Only a four-point gap separates Villa from leaders Tottenham Hotspur - who are not in action until Monday evening - and a rare strike from Torres a fortnight ago means that the Lions enter Sunday's affair aiming to prolong their scoring streak to eight consecutive matches in all tournaments.

Barring a shock EFL Cup elimination at the hands of Everton in September, Villa Park has not proved a happy hunting ground for visiting teams either, as the hosts are on a remarkable 10-game Premier League winning streak on familiar territory, and it has been 12 months since Villa last failed to make the net bulge in Trinity Road.

Speaking of making the net bulge, West Ham and Newcastle renewed hostilities on October 8 following a pair of morale-boosting continental triumphs, although the Magpies' 4-1 obliteration of Paris Saint-Germain made a few more headlines than the Irons' 2-1 beating of Freiburg.

Teaching the French champions a footballing lesson still could not prevent Newcastle from falling a goal down to Tomas Soucek's strike early on, but Moyes's men were then hit with two Alexander Isak-sized sucker punches and required a last-gasp Mohammed Kudus drive to claw themselves level again.

Similarly to Aston Villa, both West Ham and Newcastle may have been feeling the effects of their European exertions at the London Stadium, where that solitary point was enough to keep the seventh-placed Hammers one spot clear of the Magpies and within touching distance of their upcoming hosts.

A spot in the top four could even be on offer for the Irons - who are now unbeaten in four games on the spin - if results around them go in their favour, and while Villa's goalscoring exploits are to be admired, Moyes's side have now come up with the attacking goods in 15 successive fixtures.

Furthermore, four of West Ham's last five away contests have ended in victory for the capital outfit, who have navigated their last 10 games against Aston Villa without suffering defeat - winning three on the bounce at Villa Park - but the time is nigh for Emery's side to set the record straight.

Team News

Aston Villa were one of three clubs to be caught up in the alarming Italian football betting scandal, as Nicolo Zaniolo pulled out of the Azzurri squad amid allegations of illegal gambling, but as things stand, the playmaker will be available for Sunday's game; the club is yet to publicly address the matter.

There has been little movement in the Aston Villa infirmary during the two-week break, with long-term knee victims Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings still on the long road to recovery, while there is no timeframe on Jacob Ramsey's recuperation from an ankle issue.

Left-back Alex Moreno (thigh) was closing in on a return to action before suffering a setback in his recovery, and Emery confirmed on Friday that the former Real Betis man would not be back in the fray just yet.

Emiliano Martinez, Jhon Duran and Leon Bailey all turned out for their countries across the Atlantic during the international period, but there is nothing to suggest that the trio will not be involved here.

Similarly, West Ham boss Moyes must assess the conditions of Mexico's Edson Alvarez and Jamaica's Michail Antonio following their arduous journeys home, but the duo should participate in Sunday's game barring any unforeseen fitness setbacks.

No long-term injury concerns are bedevilling the Hammers at present, but Lukasz Fabianski was not in the squad against Newcastle due to a knock, while full-backs Ben Johnson (groin) and Aaron Cresswell (hamstring) remain doubtful too.

Kudus's crucial contribution against Newcastle may give Moyes food for thought up front, especially with Lucas Paqueta one booking away from a ban, but the latter did not turn out for Brazil this month and may therefore be preferred from the first whistle.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Cash, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins

West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Bowen, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Antonio

We say: Aston Villa 3-2 West Ham United

West Ham's phenomenal stretch of recent results against Villa will serve them well in the West Midlands, while an unwelcome off-field distraction relating to Zaniolo's alleged misdemeanours could also impact the hosts' preparation for this one.

However, Emery's men have put almost every foe to the sword on Villa Park turf in recent months, and while they may have to survive a couple of scares against Moyes's goal-happy attackers, we still expect the Lions to maintain their golden streak at home and end their visitors' unbeaten run.


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