Aston Villa return to Villa Park on Sunday with the aim of bouncing back from their narrow 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in midweek. With Premier League points still vital in the final stretch of the season, Unai Emery is expected to freshen up his side for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Villa boss is set to stick with his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, but one notable change is anticipated: Ross Barkley is tipped to start, while Douglas Luiz may begin the match on the bench.
Predicted Aston Villa Lineup (4-2-3-1) vs Tottenham Hotspur
Goalkeeper & Defence
Emiliano Martínez remains the undisputed No.1 and will take his place between the posts, eager to produce a stronger defensive display after conceding once at the City Ground.
At centre-back, Ezri Konsa is expected to partner Pau Torres, with both defenders tasked with shutting down Spurs’ forward movements and bringing composure to Villa’s back line.
On the flanks, Matty Cash should feature at right-back, offering his usual aggressive pressing and overlapping runs. Lucas Digne will start on the left, looking to maintain balance between defence and attack.
Emery will have depth available on the bench with Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, and Victor Lindelöf all ready if defensive adjustments are required.
Midfield
The double pivot is likely to feature Amadou Onana alongside Youri Tielemans, forming a robust and technically assured central pairing. Their control in midfield will be crucial, especially against Tottenham’s energetic press.
Ahead of them, the attacking trio brings creativity and work rate in equal measure.
- Emi Buendía will operate between the lines.
- Morgan Rogers is expected to retain his place, offering ball-carrying threat.
- John McGinn, ever-reliable, should complete the trio, providing leadership and industry.
On the bench, both Douglas Luiz and Jadon Sancho provide high-quality options for the second half, giving Emery tactical flexibility if the game demands fresh creativity.
Attack
Ollie Watkins leads the line once again. Villa’s top scorer will be relied upon to unsettle the Spurs centre-backs and create scoring opportunities, whether through his movement in behind or his link-up play.
Tammy Abraham is expected to be a substitute but could feature late on if Villa need additional firepower.
Aston Villa’s predicted XI mixes stability with a slight tactical tweak as Ross Barkley is tipped to return to the starting lineup. With key attacking and midfield options waiting on the bench, Emery will have plenty of resources to influence the match as his side look to respond positively at home.
