View: Emiliano Buendia to start, Ollie Watkins axed – Aston Villa predicted XI vs Crystal Palace
Aston Villa look to make it two wins in a row when they travel to south London to take on Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.
The Villans bounced back from their opening day defeat against Bournemouth with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Everton last weekend, and look to carry that momentum into the game this weekend.
But what side will Steven Gerrard go with to try and claim the three points, with changes guaranteed after the injury to Diego Carlos? Aston Villa News takes a look at the potential lineup..
In goal there is no guessing required, with Argentine stopped Emiliano Martinez the undisputed number one goalkeeper at the club.
In defence, the full-backs pick themselves. Matty Cash has proven his importance to the team over the last two seasons and is one of the first names on the team sheet for Gerrard on the right, while Lucas Digne is the regularly high-performing starting left-back.
Gerrard has changed his central defence in both games and will be forced to change it again here after Carlos ruptured his achilles in the closing minutes against Everton. Ezri Konsa will now come back into the side and partner Tyrone Mings for the foreseeable.
In midfield there is unlikely to be much change. Boubacar Kamara is the new first-choice holding midfielder ahead of Douglas Luiz, while captain John McGinn brings energy and bite and Jacob Ramsey provides the goal threat from a deeper position.
Further forward there are decisions to make for the manager once again however.
Philippe Coutinho hasn’t been performing well yet but seems certain to keep his place on the left despite the underwhelming performances.
That leaves a gap on the right for wingers Bertrand Traore, Leon Bailey, Anwar El Ghazi and Emiliano Buendia to compete for and it’s the Argentine who is most likely to get the nod after his cameo against Everton.
Buendia’s playmaking and passing ability plus his goal threat are likely to see him get the nod, which leaves Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins to compete for the number nine role.
Watkins’ runs in behind are arguably better suited to the team behind him, but Ings has started both Premier League games so far and scored last week with a well taken strike so is likely to keep his place.
Aston Villa predicted XI vs Crystal Palace: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, McGinn, Ramsey; Buendia, Ings, Coutinho
In other Aston Villa news, Kortney Hause will still be allowed to join Watford despite Diego Carlos’ injury