Aston Villa will be looking to end a run of three straight Premier League defeats when they welcome fellow strugglers Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
Both Villa and Southampton have collected 15 points from their 17 league matches this season, although Dean Smith's side sit one position above the 18th-placed Saints courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Match preview
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Villa booked their spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup with a 5-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday night, although it was a bizarre match with the Reds having to send what was largely an Under-23 side onto the field due to their involvement in the Club World Cup in Qatar.
The record books will only show a Villa victory, though, and the performance was still impressive against Liverpool's talented youngsters. Smith's team must overcome a difficult run of form in the league, though, with three straight defeats seeing them remain in and around the bottom three.
Four wins and three draws have brought Villa just 15 points, level with Southampton heading into Saturday's contest. There is now a three-point gap between Villa in 17th and Everton in 16th, although the situation is not terminal for either side ahead of the clash at Villa Park.
Villa have not been victorious in the league since overcoming Newcastle United at the end of November. They did pick up a point at Manchester United on December 1 but have lost their last three to Chelsea, Leicester City and Sheffield United.
The team's next three are absolutely massive as they will host Southampton and Norwich City before visiting Watford on December 28. A solid return could leave them clear of the relegation zone, but a disappointing run of results is likely to leave them inside the bottom three heading into 2020.
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As for Southampton, back-to-back defeats to Newcastle and West Ham United ended what appeared to be a mini-revival. Indeed, Ralph Hasenhuttl's side took seven points from their three matches against Arsenal, Watford and Norwich between November 23 and December 4 to move up the table.
The Saints have lost narrowly in their last two, though, meaning that they will head into Saturday's match in 18th spot in the table. Their immediate run of matches is not as kind as Villa's, meanwhile, as two of their next three after this one are against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Not since the 2011-12 campaign have Southampton been outside of the Premier League, but they have finished 17th and 16th in their last two seasons and look to be in a real battle to secure their top-flight status once again.
Hasenhuttl's side have won four times on their travels in all competitions this season, though, and are certainly capable of picking up results on the road, which will concern the Villa supporters.
The Saints have actually dominated the recent meetings between the two teams and ran out 4-2 winners when they last locked horns in the Premier League in April 2016. Indeed, not since December 2013 have Villa beaten Southampton, which is a run that stretches back six matches.
Aston Villa Premier League form: LWDLLL
Aston Villa form (all competitions): WDLLLW
Southampton Premier League form: LDWWLL
Team News
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Villa will again be without the services of Tyrone Mings due to a thigh problem, while Keinan Davis and Jed Steer are still unavailable.
The performance of Jonathan Kodjia against Liverpool is bound to have made the striker a possible starter this weekend, although Wesley came off the bench to net against the Reds and should keep his spot in attack.
Conor Hourihane and Douglas Luiz are also pushing for spots in the XI due to their positive displays against the European champions, but Frederic Guilbert, Matt Targett and Anwar El Ghazi should all return.
As for Southampton, Sofiane Boufal remains a doubt due to a toe injury, while Yan Valery is also battling to overcome illness in time for the contest.
Oriol Romeu will come into Hasenhuttl's thinking for Saturday's match, although it is largely expected to be the same side that started against West Ham.
Shane Long is likely to drop out to make space for an extra midfielder, meaning that Danny Ings could be supported by Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo as part of a front three.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Hause, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane; Grealish, Wesley, El Ghazi
Southampton possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Cedric, Stephens, Bendarek, Bertrand; Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg; Redmond, Ings, Djenepo
We say: Aston Villa 2-1 Southampton
It is difficult to call this a relegation six-pointer at this relatively early stage of the season, but there is no question that it is a huge football match. Southampton have had longer to prepare for the contest, but we just fancy Villa to use the bounce of the Liverpool win to pick up three important points.
Matt Law
