Aston Villa target momentum at Fulham as Watkins threat looms
Fulham vs Aston Villa kicks off at 12:30 at Craven Cottage, live on TNT Sports 1/Ultimate, with radio on BBC WM. Villa need six more points and have regained form after a 4-3 win over Sunderland.
Villa U21s reach PL2 quarter-finals after a 3-3 draw and 5-4 shoot-out win at Southampton. Mosquera and Mulley starred in normal time, Proctor saved in pens, then Mosquera struck the winner.
Emery urges Villa to show momentum at Fulham as they defend fourth on 58 points. He targets top five, even third, and stresses consistency with Champions League aim via league and Europa League semi-final.
Villa eye a top-four boost at Fulham with rotation likely before a European semi-final. Watkins in form, Digne may return, Onana and Tielemans to anchor midfield. Predicted XI features Sancho and Rogers.
Opinion urges Unai Emery to pair Tammy Abraham with Ollie Watkins at Fulham. Abraham has 2 goals, 3.44 shots per 90 and 60% passing, with a 4-4-1-1 or dropping Ross Barkley suggested to fit both.
Ryan Sessegnon’s 43rd-minute finish sinks Villa 1-0 at Craven Cottage. Watkins and Morgan Rogers miss chances, Castagne’s header ruled out for a foul on Emiliano Martinez. Villa stay on 58 points, focus shifts to Europe.
Opinion urges Lindelof to start at Fulham after Mings’ poor display vs Sunderland. Lindelof’s passing and duels at Forest cited as grounds to replace the 33-year-old for defensive solidity.
PL explain Timothy Castagne’s disallowed header: VAR upheld Michael Oliver’s call as Sander Berge impeded Emi Martinez. Despite the reprieve, Villa lose 1-0 after Ryan Sessegnon’s first-half goal.
Fulham seek to halt eight straight losses to Villa, who chase Champions League. Watkins is flagged as a major threat, while Emery’s side have looked leaky away ahead of a looming Europa League semi-final.
Preview backs Ollie Watkins as ‘massive’ for Villa at Fulham, citing six goals in nine vs the Whites and five in his last four. Emery’s sides hold a strong record against Fulham as top-five push continues.
Sassuolo favour selling centre-back Tarik Muharemovic to Aston Villa or Tottenham, despite Inter talks. A left-footed defender, he could cost up to €40m as the club await Premier League bids.
Sporting raise Geny Catamo’s price to at least €30m after rejecting Villa’s €20m bid. The winger has 8 goals and 4 assists, a new deal to 2029, and is now seen as a key asset.
Villa could bench Barkley by starting a ‘new Jack Grealish’ this weekend as they protect their Champions League push.
