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Premier League Preview: West Ham vs Aston Villa - Analysis and Insights
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Premier League Preview: West Ham vs Aston Villa - Analysis and Insights

15/08/24 10:04

Premier League Preview: West Ham vs Aston Villa - Analysis and Insights

The Premier League’s two resident claret and blue fitted sides will face each other on the opening Saturday of the season, with kick-off at 5:30.

Both have been two of the busiest clubs in the transfer market this summer, and the squads with which they are set to start the new season have undergone significant changes since we last saw them at the end of May.

As the game edges closer, we take a dive into the details of both sides, identifying players, strategies, strengths and weaknesses that have the potential to decide the game.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Pre-season Form

Both clubs had a busy pre-season, as West Ham took part in five inter-club friendlies, while Aston Villa managed to squeeze in seven to give their new-look squad the best chance of gelling together.

West Ham had a forgettable off-season, winning just one game in normal time (a 1-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge, albeit with a depleted team), and losing twice to Premier League rivals Wolves and Crystal Palace by the scoreline of 3-1.

A draw and penalty shootout win over Celta Vigo ended the warm period on a positive note, but West Ham will be disappointed with the form they showed across their five games, as they know the squad they have built over the summer is much better than that.

Aston Villa’s pre-season also provided mixed results, but they started off with consecutive wins, beating Walsall and Spartak Trnava 3-0. However, their tour of the USA did not go according to plan, and they went on a streak of poor results.

They lost twice to American clubs twice, with Columbus crew routing them 4-1, while Club America eked out a 1-0 win, while a 1-0 defeat to German side Red Bull Leipzig was sandwiched between the two.

They were able to turn their poor run of form around with a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao, before ending their pre-season with defeat against another German side, Champions League final runners up Borussia Dortmund.

So, with four wins between the two sides combined, it has not exactly been a pre-season to shout about for either. However, their main priority over the summer has been bolstering their ranks, and in doing this, the two clubs combined have spent over £300 million (too see both sides transfers, click here).

While their pre-season results were poor, the two clubs would argue that they also mean virtually nothing, as the whole idea around friendlies is to give players minutes to find match fitness again, as well as providing the opportunity for managers to experiment new tactics and combinations of players.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Goal Scorers

While crucially keeping hold of their existing forwards in Michail Antonia, Danny Ings and the sought after Jarrod Bowen, West Ham have focused on bringing in quality depth during the transfer window.

As a result, Niclas Fullkrug was brought in for £27 million after an excellent Euro 2024 with host nation Germany, and so was 18-year-old Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras for just under £20 million. A quick, skillful addition on the wing, he could provide ample service to fellow signing Fullkrug, and bring a new interesting dynamic to the West Ham offense.

Of course, a section discussing goal scorers would be incomplete without mentioning Jarrod Bowen’s escapades last season. Scoring 16 goals in 34 league matches, while assisting 6 more, Bowen was in the running for the golden boot until the last weeks of the season, Erling Haaland stepped into gear.

Crucial to West Ham’s dynamism on the counter attack, his composure and decision making around the 18 yard area is top notch, and with the new names added to play alongside him, he has the potential to bring last season’s figures even higher.

For Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins remains the main man, even further cementing his place after his magical moment against the Netherlands at Euro 2024. Bettering Bowen by three goals last season, and laying on 13 further goals for his teammates, Watkins is a complete striker, able to finish ferociously, while also having an unselfish tendency to set up a chance for someone in a better position.

Jhon Duran, subject of much transfer interest earlier on in the summer, provides capable backup, while Leon Bailey, £14 million signing Jaden Philogene-Bidace, and £12 million signature Samuel Iling Junior provide different traits on the wings, leaving opponents guessing as to what type of test they will receive on any given match day.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Head to Head

Villa got the better of West Ham across their two Premier League fixtures last season, picking up four points out of six, and running out comprehensive 4-1 winners in the home fixture. However, with significantly altered squads, this fixture has suddenly become rather tricky to predict.

Last five results between the two:

  • 17/03/2024: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa.
  • 22/10/2023: Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham.
  • 12/03/2023: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa.
  • 28/08/2022: Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham.
  • 13/03/2022: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Team News

West Ham have a relatively clean bill of health, with Edson Alvarez the only player likely to miss out on the matchday squad after picking up a groin injury during Mexico’s Copa America campaign. However, he could be assessed ahead of kick off, and still stands a chance of making the matchday squad.

Aston Villa have several doubts ahead of their season opener, with Boubacar Kamara a confirmed absentee. He picked up a severe knee injury in Villa’s clash with Manchester United in February, and has not played a minute since. Tyrone Mings who suffered a similar injury against Newcastle on the opening day of last season, is also likely to miss out.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Predicted Lineups

  • West Ham (4-5-1): Areola (GK), Coufal, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson, Bowen, Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez, Kudus, Fullkrug.
  • Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez (GK), Konsa, Torres, Konsa, Maatsen, Bailey, Barkley, Onana, McGinn, Rodgers, Watkins.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Player to Watch

With the abundance of talent on display in this game, not to mention the new names on display, it is hard to pinpoint just one player to keep an eye on for this one. However, if I had to pick one, it would be Mohammed Kudus.

Kudus was at times mesmeric for West Ham last season. His fearless attitude on the ball, breathtaking skill while dribbling and no nonsense finishing was a joy to behold last season, and brought back memories of other cult Hammers’ cult heroes, such as Dimitri Payet.

His magnificent solo goal against Freiburg in the Europa League certainly stirred memories of Payet vs Middlesbrough in 2016, and the Ghanaian international certainly has all the right facets of his game to become another West Ham legend. Expect him to thrive this season after an impressive debut campaign.

Where can I watch West Ham vs Aston Villa?

The game will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Premier League, and for those who cannot access that channel, text commentary will be available on BBC Sport and any other live scores app/website you choose to use.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Harry Pascoe

Lead Writer

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