Aston Villa face a tricky test against relegation threatened West Ham United in the premier league Match-Day 16, Softfootball reports.
Aston Villa defeated Arsenal 2-1 last weekend before beating Basel in the Europa League in midweek while West Ham have only two wins from 10 matches under new manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, the other results are four draws and four defeat.
Aston Villa are feeling confident about the match and shared information about the game via official X handle. They posted:
A Sunday showdown in the capital is next ⏭️ pic.twitter.com/YibGux3f2Y
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 12, 2025Head-to-Head
Both sides have played 123 matches with West Ham winning 45 matches while Aston Villa winner had 41 wins and 37 of the matches has ended in a draw. It sets up Sunday game for a thrilling encounter.
Star Player
Konstantinos Mavropanos recently celebrated his 28th birthday and will be a key role against Aston Villa. He will have to be alert to stop any of Villa’s fast strong.
Ollie Watkins is the star player for the Aston Villa. He has not painted the premier league but he remains a very important part of Unai Emery’s team and tomorrow won’t be any different.
Team News
West Ham’s Long-term absentee Lukasz Fabianski is still battling a back injury, which means Alphonse Areola is likely to remain between the sticks.
Forwards Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson will always play a crucial role in the Hammers’ attack, as both have registered four Premier League goals this season, accounting for 48% of the club’s total goals this term.
Niclas Fulkrug, currently out of favour at Aston Villa and seeking a move away from the club as early as January while Ross Barkley and Tyrone Mings, who are struggling with knee and hamstring issues, respectively.
In a bizarre twist, Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott’s career appears to have hit a dead end at Villa Park, but it has nothing to do with his ability.
The Villains are apparently not willing to pay the £35m obligation-to-buy fee if Elliott makes 10 appearances for the Birmingham club, so he remains out of Emery’s thoughts for now, until the clubs can come to an agreement regarding the fee.
The manager has a difficult decision to make in the final third, where Emiliano Buendia, Donyell Malen and Ollie Watkins are currently performing and pushing for starts.
West Ham United probable XI
Areola; Mavropanos, Todibo, Kilman; Wan-Bissaka, Rodriguez, Paqueta, Diouf; Soucek, Wilson, Bowen
Aston Villa probable XI
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; Buendia, Tielemans, McGinn; Watkins
Softfootball prediction
It will be a good game of football but Aston Villa are expected to edge the Hammer. West Ham 1-3 Aston Villa.
