Aston Villa vs Tottenham predictions: Spurs can make top-four gains
- Aston Villa have won only two of their last five home league matches
- Both teams have scored in Tottenham’s last nine league games
- Recommended bet: Tottenham to win & both teams to score
Victory for Aston Villa would put them in a commanding position to finish in the Premier League’s top four, but Tottenham know that three points for themselves would do their Champions League qualification hopes the world of good.
Villa currently sit fourth, five points clear of Spurs who have a game in hand, and they have steadied the ship with three straight league wins over Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Luton.
However, Unai Emery’s side were in Europa Conference League action away at Ajax on Thursday, so Tottenham have had better preparation.
Spurs have lost only two of their last 12 league games and they head to Villa Park on the back of a 3-1 success at home to Crystal Palace, a game in which they trailed with only 13 minutes remaining.
Team news
Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey was ruled out of Thursday’s goalless draw with Ajax with a foot problem and looks set to miss out, alongside Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara.
Pau Torres missed last week's win at Luton because of injury but played the first half against Ajax and is back in the reckoning, although Jhon Duran is a doubt.
For Tottenham, Richarlison is still unavailable with a knee issue while Manor Solomon, Fraser Forster and Ryan Sessegnon remain sidelined.
The stats
Aston Villa have won their last three Premier League meetings with Tottenham and have won four of their last five league matches.
Villa have seen at least three goals scored in eight of their last nine league matches.
There have been over 2.5 goals in five of the last six meetings between the pair.
Both teams have scored in each of Tottenham’s last nine league matches.
Tottenham have lost only two of their last 11 league fixtures while three of their last five away games have ended in draws.
Prediction
This is a huge game in the scrap for Champions League qualification and defeat for Tottenham could all but end their hopes of finishing in the top four.
However, Tottenham have won seven of their last 11 league matches and they should be the fresher of the pair as Aston Villa were in Europa Conference League action away at Ajax on Thursday.
On the whole, Villa have been strong at home this season but they have suffered league defeats at home to Newcastle and Manchester United since the start of the year and performance levels have certainly dipped despite the fact they have won four of their last five.
Villa needed an 89th-minute winner from Lucas Digne to record a 3-2 win at Luton last weekend, which means they have conceded twice in three of their last four league matches.
So Tottenham, who Richarlison aside have a full strength squad to choose from, are fancied to claim the victory that would move them to within two points of Villa.
That said, with both teams having scored in Spurs’ last nine league matches, Villa should get on the scoresheet albeit in defeat.
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