Aston Villa will be looking to extend a Premier League feat when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
The West Midlands outfit can be relatively satisfied with their work during 2024-25, particularly in the Champions League where they have accumulated nine points from a possible 12.
However, Unai Emery's side have recently lost ground in the Premier League, collecting just one point from fixtures against Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
As a result, Villa now sit in ninth position in the table, albeit still just three points adrift of third-placed Chelsea.
With the November international break having come and gone, Villa now have to cope with an intense schedule as they bid to keep their domestic and continental ambitions on track.
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What record are Villa defending against Palace?
Villa will be squaring off against Palace in a home Premier League fixture for just the 13th time, both clubs having spent time outside of the top flight during that particular era.
During those fixtures, Villa have suffered just the one defeat, losing 1-0 on Boxing Day in 2013 courtesy of a last-gasp Dwight Gayle goal.
As well as that being their only defeat, Villa have never conceded more than once in a Premier League fixture on familiar territory versus the Eagles, keeping six clean sheets.
However, some context is required with Palace having netted twice at Villa Park as recently as October 30 when they won 2-1 in the EFL Cup fourth round.
On a further negative note, Emery is currently on the worst run of his managerial career having incredibly never lost four matches in a row across 1,026 games until the period before the international break.
Furthermore, Villa have only kept one clean sheet in their last 16 games in the Premier League, with that coming in a goalless draw against Manchester United at the start of October.
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Work to do for Palace
Palace have lost the momentum that they generated under Oliver Glasner at the back end of 2023-24, holding a lead for just 104 minutes of action across their opening 11 matches.
The Londoners have also put together their third-worst ever start to a Premier League campaign at this stage with just seven points.
Star man Eberechi Eze remains a considerable injury doubt with a hamstring injury; Palace have only won once in their last 14 league games without the playmaker in the side, that coming at home to Burnley back in February.
Darren Plant
