View: Douglas Luiz and Emi Buendia could return – Aston Villa predicted XI v Tottenham
Steven Gerrard is predicted to make two changes to Aston Villa’s starting line-up ahead of their clash with Tottenham at Villa Park on Saturday.
Villa suffered derby-day disappointment last time out as they were beaten 2-1 by Wolves at the weekend and as a result, Gerrard is expected to tweak with his line-up before in-form Spurs arrive in the West Midlands.
Douglas Luiz could come in to start in the holding midfield area, replacing Morgan Sanson. While in the attack, Emiliano Buendia could be chosen to replace Leon Bailey.
Emiliano Martinez is predicted to start in goals, as usual, behind an unchanged back-four of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne.
Mings, 29, goes into the clash with Tottenham on nine yellow cards, meaning he’s one booking away from a two-match ban in the Premier League. If he can make the next two games without getting booked, Mings’ threat of a ban will be wiped.
In the midfield, we expect 23-year-old Luiz to be joined by John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey.
Gerrard could make a change to his attack too, bringing in Buendia, 25, to replace 24-year-old Bailey, who’s been disappointing in his debut season at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins could be chosen to spearhead Gerrard’s attack against Tottenham.
Aston Villa haven’t won against Tottenham at Villa Park since New Year’s Day in 2008 when centre-backs Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen scored in a 2-1 win.
In other Aston Villa news, injury expert Ben Dinney says that Digne and Danny Ings are both available to play against Tottenham.