Preview: Southampton vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

The Saints came from behind to defeat Everton 2-1 in their most recent top-flight battle, while Unai Emery's men defeated Leeds United by the same scoreline.

Match preview

The latest James Ward-Prowse stunning free kick propelled Southampton to all three points against one of their basement rivals in Everton last time out, as boos rang out across Goodison Park following the Toffees' failure to build on Amadou Onana's opening header.

Ward-Prowse finished coolly into the bottom corner to level in the second half before sending a thunderous effort into the net 12 minutes from time, handing Nathan Jones a long-awaited first Premier League win as Saints manager and a third on the bounce in all tournaments.

Building on an FA Cup success over Crystal Palace and memorable EFL Cup beating of Manchester City, Southampton's win over Everton did not change their 20th-placed standing at the foot of the Premier League table, but they are now level with Everton and West Ham United on 15 points and just one adrift of safety.

Jones's side had embarked on a miserable seven-game winless streak and six-game losing run in the top flight before getting the better of Everton, although Onana's header extended the hosts' run without a clean sheet in the top flight to eight matches since a 1-0 success over Bournemouth in October.

Now tasked with ending Southampton's six-match Premier League winless run at St Mary's, Jones and his leaky Saints side have shipped a joint-high 16 goals on home soil this term and have not kept a top-flight clean sheet in front of their own fans all season long - last keeping out Arsenal all the way back in April 2022.

Demanding a response after his side became the latest FA Cup giant-killing victims at the hands of Stevenage, Unai Emery got what he wanted from Aston Villa during the visit of Leeds to the West Midlands last Friday, as the Lions bounced back with a narrow victory.

Leon Bailey took just three minutes to open the scoring for Villa before Emiliano Buendia's insurance goal, and Emery's side held out for the final few moments despite seeing their clean sheet wiped out by Patrick Bamford seven minutes from the end.

Still unbeaten in the Premier League since the turn of the year - claiming seven points from nine on offer in the top flight - Aston Villa's improving exploits under Emery have allowed the Lions to rise to 11th in the table - only three points adrift of under-performing powerhouses Liverpool and Chelsea.

Only Liverpool have beaten Aston Villa in top-flight action since Emery took the reins, with Villa scoring and conceding in five of their six top-flight contests under the ex-Arsenal boss, who could become the first Lions coach since John Gregory in 1998 to win each of his first three away matches in charge.

A strike from Jacob Ramsey gave Villa a 1-0 win over Southampton earlier this season - the Lions' third win from their last four over the Saints - but the hosts prevailed by the same scoreline at St Mary's in the 2021-22 campaign.

Southampton Premier League form:

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Southampton form (all competitions):

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Aston Villa Premier League form:

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Aston Villa form (all competitions):

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Team News

Southampton have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to report from the win over Everton, and Jones may even be able to welcome the trio of Theo Walcott, Alex McCarthy and Armel Bella-Kotchap back for Saturday, but none of them is likely to start.

Juan Larios and Valentino Livramento remain out of contention for the hosts, who handed Carlos Alcaraz his debut off the bench at Goodison Park following his arrival from Racing Club, but Jones may not consider the 20-year-old for a starting role just yet.

The hosts could very well name the same starting XI from their Merseyside success, but Sam Edozie was less impactful in that game and could find his spot under threat from Adam Armstrong or Sekou Mara.

As for Villa, ex-Saints striker Danny Ings replaced Ollie Watkins in the first half of Friday's win over Leeds due to an ankle issue for the latter, but he will play no part against his former club as he closes in on a switch to West Ham United.

However, scans have revealed no significant damage to Watkins's ankle, and he could be fit to start after returning to training this week, therefore easing the pressure on Villa chiefs to get the signing of Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire over the line for the weekend.

Alex Moreno should be in line for his full Premier League debut after Lucas Digne came off with a shoulder injury after just 10 minutes last time out, joining Diego Carlos, John McGinn, Jed Steer and Ludwig Augustinsson on the sidelines.

Matty Cash will hope to return from a groin injury in time to play, though, while Leander Dendoncker is back from suspension, and Jan Bednarek cannot play against his parent club.

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; Lyanco, Salisu, Caleta-Car; Walker-Peters, Diallo, Lavia, Elyounoussi; Ward-Prowse; Edozie, Adams

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Kamara, Luiz, J. Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Bailey

We say: Southampton 2-2 Aston Villa

A Southampton team evidently growing in confidence can no doubt trouble a leaky Villa rearguard, and Jones's side have not experienced much difficulty in front of goal at home, in spite of their miserable set of results.

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