Birmingham’s Aston Villa newsLive as Unai Emery selects his starting lineup for the Premier League matchup against Tottenham
Head coach Unai Emery of Aston Villa has selected his starting lineup for this afternoon’s match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Before the November international break, Emery’s team defeated Fulham 3-1; he has chosen to make a single change to that lineup. Diego Carlos replaces Youri Tielemans, while Nicolo Zaniolo is sidelined after returning to Villa hurt during the international break, and Jacob Ramsey is back on the bench.
With a victory, Villa could pass Tottenham in the Premier League standings and make it into the top four, something they haven’t done in the past two attempts after losing to Nottingham Forest at the beginning of November and Wolves last month. Concern has been raised about the club’s away performance because only five teams in the division have
If Emery’s team is to maintain a push for a top five finish this season, they will need to improve their performance away from home. For the first time since August 1995, Villa will try to defeat Tottenham on the road in the league this afternoon.
From back to front, Emi Martinez starts in goal behind a defence of Ezri Konsa, Carlos and Pau Torres, while Matty Cash and Lucas Digne operate as full-backs. Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz continue in the double pivot in midfield. John McGinn will support Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins in attack.
Villa XI vs Spurs: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Carlos, Pau, Digne, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn, Diaby, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Tielemans, Moreno, Lenglet, Duran, Bailey, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Iroegbunam.
Spurs XI vs Villa: Vicario, Porro, Royal, Davies, Udogie, Bentancur, Lo Celso, Gil, Son, Johnson, Kulusevski.
Subs: Forster, Austin, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Dier, Veliz, Donley, Dorrington.
