BIRMINGHAM, England – Aston Villa go into their crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur on Friday without suspended midfielder Jacob Ramsey and two other key players.
Last weekend, Ramsey received a red card during Villa’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth, leaving him out for this important Premier League clash. Furthermore, Marcus Rashford is sidelined for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, while Youri Tielemans is still battling a muscle issue.
Tottenham Hotspur also faces challenges as Dejan Kulusevski has undergone knee surgery which will keep him out for several months. Fellow midfielders James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall are also injury absentees, but captain Son Heung-min is back after a month of recovery and is expected to get significant playing time at Villa Park.
Aston Villa currently occupies the sixth position in the league, just three points away from third-placed Newcastle United, making a victory against Spurs essential for their Champions League ambitions.
Unai Emery’s side has had a strong run, going unbeaten in their last 20 home matches, with 14 wins and 6 draws. They aim to extend this impressive home form against a Tottenham squad struggling in the lower part of the table.
“We know the importance of this match for our Champions League hopes,” Emery said during a press conference. “Tottenham is a good team, but we must grab the three points at home.”
On the other side, Tottenham sits in 17th place and must shift their focus on avoiding relegation while also preparing for an upcoming Europa League match against Manchester United. Their season has been riddled with difficulties, including just one win in their last ten Premier League games.
“We have to find a balance between competing in the league and preparing for Europe,” said Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou. “A win against Villa would help our confidence.”
The last time these teams met, Tottenham edged out Villa with a 2-1 victory. However, history does not favor Spurs, as they have lost four of their last five league encounters old Villa.
Key players for Villa include Ollie Watkins, who recently became the club’s highest goalscorer in Premier League history with 75 goals. With a solid midfield lineup expected, Villa seems to have the upper hand in this fixture.
Kick-off is set for 8 PM local time Friday.
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