EPL: Aston Villa ready to match 40-year club record against Iwobi’s Fulham

Aston Villa can match a 40-year club record when they welcome Fulham to Villa Park in the Premier League on Sunday.

Unai Emery’s side have the opportunity to win a 13th consecutive home league game here, something they have not achieved since 1983.

READ ALSO: Man Utd boss Ten Hag celebrates after victory over Luton

A win will be high on Emery’s agenda, especially after his Villa side slipped up at Nottingham Forest last week and missed the chance to move into the top four.

That somewhat surprising defeat at the City Ground ended a six-game unbeaten run in the league, but Liverpool and Arsenal remain in reach, just two points ahead of Villa heading into the weekend.

Villa will need a favour from one or both of Brentford or Burnley in beating those two sides though if they want to go into the international break in the top four.

That is of course, if the hosts can get the job done themselves here, and their form at Villa Park this season suggests that is likely.

Everton are the only side to have come here and won since mid-February in all competitions, but that was in an EFL Cup tie, as Villa have been perfect so far in the Premier League.

Five wins from five with 20 goals scored is the best record in the division, and on the continent Emery’s side have been faultless too, as Thursday’s 2-1 win over AZ Alkmaar made it three from three this season in the Europa Conference League at home.

Goals have been important though as Villa have had a hard time stopping them going in at the other end, keeping just two clean sheets in their last 13 games – against Chelsea and Zrinjski Mostar.

While Villa have been ruthless in attack, upcoming opponents Fulham have been far from it, recording a joint-league high of five blanks this season after losing 1-0 at home to Manchester United last weekend.

That defeat leaves Fulham down in 15th, but they are still a healthy six points clear of the drop zone currently.

Marco Silva’s side are not one of the obvious candidates to go down, but only Burnley have scored fewer goals as Fulham are still yet to reach double figures, having not sufficiently replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goals.

Joao Palhinha and Bobby Decordova-Reid are the Cottagers’ top scorers with two goals each, and that is a big reason why they have only recorded three wins in 11 games so far this – against Everton, Luton Town and Sheffield United.

Holding Brighton & Hove Albion to a draw at the Amex in their last away outing was a fine result though, and may give them some belief for this one, especially as they were also extremely close to taking a point against Man United.

Diego Carlos was taken off injured late on after scoring Villa’s equaliser in midweek, and Emery has confirmed that the Brazilian will not be available for this encounter.

The former Sevilla defender has rarely featured from the outset in the league though, with Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres set to continue in the centre.

Striker Jhon Duran returned to the bench for the AZ game after missing Villa’s last two matches with an infected toe, but Jacob Ramsey will not make a comeback until after the international break.

Tyrone Mings scored the only goal in this fixture last season, but ACL injuries will keep both him and Emi Buendia out for the long term.

Issa Diop’s foot injury will rule him out of this clash along with fellow Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, who is close to returning after a lengthy absence.

Young forward Rodrigo Muniz is unlikely to feature after going off against Man United last week, while there will be late fitness tests for Kenny Tete and Adama Traore.

Muniz’s absence means there will be a battle between Carlos Vinicius and Raul Jimenez up front, but the duo have just one league between them this season – the Brazilian’s strike against Luton.

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

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Iwobi, Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira; Wilson, Carlos Vinicius, Willian