Emery's Aston Villa can take top spot with win over struggling Sheffield United

Unai Emery's men are enjoying an incredible season and are well in the title race.

They have won each of their last 15 home league games and will feel very confident of making it 16.

Sheffield United are struggling at the bottom of the table, with Chris Wilder, as of yet, unable to get much more from his players.

They have managed one win, which came against Brentford, but need more points and here would be a good place to start.

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United: Brilliant Bailey

Emery has worked his magic with many Villa players, including Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and John McGinn.

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New signings Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres have also proven to be excellent additions.

But one man who has gone under the radar is Leon Bailey.

The Jamaican international joined Villa in the summer of 2021 from Bayer Leverkusen but didn't show his best in either of his first two campaigns.

However, this year is a different story.

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Bailey has five goals and five assists for Villa in the Premier League this season, including the winner against Manchester City.

He is flying under the radar but is playing at a top level and looks like the winger the Villans thought they initially signed.

Rory Jennings believes Unai Emery's Aston Villa are title contenders this season

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games against Sheffield United (W8 D6) since losing 2-0 in January 1966.

Sheffield United have kept three clean sheets in their last four Premier League games against Aston Villa (W2 D1 L1), losing the other game 1-0 in September 2020.

Aston Villa have won their last five Premier League games against promoted sides, since a 3-0 loss at Fulham last season in what proved to be Steven Gerrard's final game in charge. They last had a longer winning run vs promoted sides in the 1980-81 season, winning all six such matches in what was their last title winning campaign.

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United: Team news

The hosts are still without long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia.

Bertrand Traore is struggling with a muscle problem and Robin Olsen has a knock.

Boubacar Kamara won't be involved after being sent off in the fiery 2-1 win over Brentford.

Youri Tielemans and Torres are also doubtful.

Meanwhile, the Blades have plenty of long-term issues.

John Egan, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Rhian Brewster, Chris Basham and Daniel Jebbison are all still absent.

Aston Villa have won their last two Premier League games played on a Friday, as many as they had in their first 12 such games (D4 L6).

Aston Villa have won each of their last 15 Premier League home games; it's their longest such run in their league history, while only three sides have won more consecutively at home in the Premier League - Liverpool (24 between 2019 and 2020), Manchester City (20 between 2011 and 2012) and Manchester United (19 between 2010 and 2011).

Sheffield United have won just two of their last 33 Premier League away games (D4 L27), winning 2-1 at Man Utd in January 2021 and 1-0 at Everton in May 2021. They're the only Premier League side without a win on the road so far this season (D1 L7).

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United: What has been said?

Villa striker Watkins explained his celebration against former club Brentford after the game.

The striker caused a series of incidents after scoring against the Bees on Sunday.

He said: "There was one individual who had been giving me abuse all game, from the first corner. He'd been on to me all game saying personal stuff.

"I wasn't racially abused, but he was saying a lot of stuff. If it happens once it's fine, but two, three, four times, he kept going on to me, I thought 'I'm going to get him back'.

"It was aimed at him, not anyone else at the stadium, I have a lot of respect for the club, the people here, the owner, the manager... that's what I said to him after, when I was walking off."

Aston Villa have won 25 Premier League games in 2023, their most top-flight wins in a single calendar year in their history. Only Manchester City (87) have won more points in the Premier League in 2023 than Villa (81).

Sheffield United have had the fewest shots (142) and the lowest xG (13) of any Premier League side so far this season. As it stands, their 8.4 shots-per-game is the lowest on record (since 1997-98) of any side in a single Premier League campaign.

Ollie Watkins has scored 49 Premier League goals and could become only the third player to hit 50 in the competition for Aston Villa after Gabriel Agbonlahor (74) and Dwight Yorke (60). He also has nine goals this season and has 10+ goals in all three seasons for Villa so far - the last player to score 10+ goals in four consecutive top-flight seasons for the club was Peter Withe (1980-81 to 1984-85).

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United: talkSPORT coverage

This Premier League clash at Villa Park is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 22.

Kick-off at Villa Park is scheduled for 8pm.

talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage, with Hugh Woozencroft serving as your presenter.

Commentary will then come from Jim Proudfoot and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.

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talkSPORT.com will also have all of the reaction from Villa Park.

Listen through the website HERE. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.