West Hamvs.Aston Villa

Unai Emery takes his side into the new season as Champions League participants having earned a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.

The Spaniard can also claim to have enjoyed a productive period in the transfer market with an array of new talent having arrived at Villa Park.

Nevertheless, there will be no complacency at the West Midlands outfit as they prepare to juggle the tougher schedule and remain in the upper echelons of England's top flight.

Emery will have high hopes of making a positive start against a West Ham side who they have avoided defeat against in their last three encounters.

That said, it is a far different story when taking into account the games that have taken place between the two teams in East London.

Thirteen years without success

Villa have failed to win a single fixture at West Ham since they emerged victorious in a contest at Upton Park back in April 2011.

A total of five draws and four defeats have been posted during that period, the most recent such encounter finishing 1-1 as recently as March.

Furthermore, Villa have succumbed to defeat in their most recent three opening fixtures in the Premier League, conceding 10 times in the process.

Twelve months ago, Villa netted an 11th-minute equaliser at Newcastle United before losing by a 5-1 scoreline at St James' Park.

West Ham also have negative runs to end

Keeping on the theme of Newcastle, the Magpies are the only team that West Ham have defeated, in 2021-22, in their last eight opening Premier League fixtures.

Six of those other seven fixtures have ended in a loss, and the Hammers hold the record for the most-ever opening-day defeats in the history of the Premier League with 15.

In the final 18 top-flight contests with David Moyes in charge, West Ham failed to keep a single clean sheet. They are now only six games short of equalling their record in the division.