Aston Villa vs West Ham predictions: Hammers can get up and running

West Ham are seeking their first win and first goal of the 2022-23 Premier League season when they head to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Villa have made a mixed start to the season, winning their solitary home outing but losing both engagements on the road.

Steven Gerrard already appears to be under pressure and he will be keen to silence some of his critics at the expense of a struggling West Ham.

The Hammers have been hugely disappointing and they make the trip to Villa Park sitting at the bottom of the standings and without a point or goal to their name.

Despite West Ham's poor league form, David Moyes is not seemingly being questioned in the same manner as his counterpart, Gerrard, and Thursday's qualification for the group stage of the Europa Conference League has helped to lift spirits.

Team news

Gerrard remains without summer signing Diego Carlos after the centre-back ruptured his Achilles in the 2-1 win over Everton.

Left-back Ludwig Augustinsson is also a doubt after sitting out the midweek EFL Cup win at Bolton with a minor knee injury.

Midfielder Philippe Coutinho, who struggled to have an impact in Villa's opening two league games of the term, is pushing for a recall after being dropped for the defeat to Crystal Palace.

West Ham are hoping to have Vladimir Coufal back in the squad after he missed Thursday's Europa Conference League win at Viborg due to concussion. However, fellow defender Craig Dawson is unavailable.

Summer signing Gianluca Scamacca could be handed his first Premier League start after netting in that trip to Denmark, while Emerson Palmieri, who signed from Chelsea this week, is likely to be handed a spot on the bench.

The stats

Villa have only picked up one win in the last 12 Premier League meetings with West Ham, earning a 1-0 triumph at home in 2015.

Since Gerrard was appointed in November, out of the other current Premier League clubs only West Ham (15) and Everton (19) have suffered more defeats in the top-flight than Villa.

Striker Ollie Watkins has been involved in seven goals in his last nine league outings, scoring four and laying on three assists.

West Ham have lost their opening three matches of a season without netting for just the second time in their history.

However, the Hammers can take comfort from their recent record against Villa, having won each of their last four meetings, while they are unbeaten in eight.

Moyes has not lost to Villa in 12 league fixtures since his Everton side fell to a 1-0 defeat at Villa Park in 2010.

Prediction

History suggests West Ham should enjoy a comfortable afternoon at Villa Park after winning on each of their last two visits.

They've scored seven goals and conceded just twice across those two fixtures and there is plenty of reason to believe another comprehensive win could be on the cards.

Only four clubs have conceded more goals than Villa in the opening three games and they appear to be struggling in the absence of summer addition Carlos.

West Ham, albeit against lesser opposition, looked much more confident when winning 3-0 at Viborg on Thursday and Scamacca, who registered in Denmark, could offer a serious threat if he is handed a first league start.