Brentford face a daunting road trip against high-flying Aston Villa

Fresh from their UEFA Europa League triumph in midweek, Aston Villa welcome Brentford to Villa Park for Sunday’s Premier League contest.

Villa claimed a 3-2 comeback victory over RB Salzburg in the Europa League on Thursday, cementing their spot in the last 16 of the competition.

The Villans were also successful in their last Premier League outing, as they defeated Newcastle United 2-0 at St James’ Park last weekend.

Brentford suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out in the Premier League.

Match preview

Aston Villa have never lost in 10 previous home league games against Brentford (W4 D6), the most they’ve ever faced a side without defeat.

Brentford won the reverse fixture against Aston Villa 1-0 in August – they’ve never won consecutive league meetings with the Villans before.

Unai Emery’s side were winless in their first five Premier League games this season (D2 L3), scoring just one goal. However, since the start of MD6 (27th September), the Villans have won more points (43) and more games (14) than any other side.

Following an eight-game winning run at home in the Premier League, Aston Villa lost 1-0 against Everton last time out at Villa Park. They’ve not lost consecutive home league games since February 2024.

The Bees have lost their last two Premier League games, going down 2-0 against both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. They last lost three consecutive league games without scoring in March 2012 in League One.

Aston Villa have scored a league-high 13 goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season, with the Villans only netting more in a campaign in 2007/08 (16).

Only bottom-side Wolves (9) have lost more Premier League away games than Brentford this season (8), with the Bees the only side without a draw on the road so far (W3).

Only Bruno Fernandes’ goals and assists have been worth more points (17) to his side in the Premier League this season than Villa’s Morgan Rogers’ (15).

Team news

Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins was forced off with a hamstring injury in Salzburg’s win on Thursday, and he’s not expected to be available.

He joins Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans in the host’s infirmary.

New signing Tammy Abraham could make his second Villa debut, replacing the injured Watkins in the starting XI.

Brentford

Kristoffer Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard are facing fitness issues after they were both forced off in the Forest defeat.

However, long-term absentees Fabio Carvalho and Josh Dasilva remain on the sidelines.

Predicted line-ups

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Luiz, Sancho, Rogers, Buendia, Abraham.

Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Jensen, Ouattara, Schade, Thiago.