View: Two changes and Philippe Coutinho to start – Aston Villa predicted XI v Southampton
Aston Villa return to Premier League action against Southampton on Friday night looking to carry their momentum from their last fixture.
The Villans had lost four of five league games before they welcomed reigning champions Manchester City to Villa Park, claiming a draw thanks to Leon Bailey’s late equaliser.
Now they host the Saints after their last Premier League fixture against Leicester City was postponed, and Steven Gerrard must make some decisions to ensure they can get another good result to move away from the relegation zone.
In goal Emiliano Martinez is the undisputed number one goalkeeper, but his performances in recent weeks have led to claims of complacency. He will start, but his form must take an upturn if he wants to cement that place going forward
In defence the teams almost picks itself currently after the injury to Diego Carlos. Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings are the starting centre backs, while Matty Cash and Lucas Digne have everything you need in a modern full-back and have their places in the side nailed down.
The midfield is where it can get tricky for Gerrard and he must make some big decisions.
The boss started with Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey against Man City but with a more expansive game expected against the Saints, he can afford to bring in extra attackers to the fray.
That means the Brazilian Luiz and Ramsey could drop out of the side, with captain McGinn’s place secure and Kamara showing his promise so far this season as the sitting midfielder.
Further forward Bailey has found his goalscoring touch and his performances from the wing have been good, so Gerrard is likely to keep faith with the Jamaican star.
Philippe Coutinho has started the season poorly, but he is one of Gerrard’s favourites without doubt and the club will be keen for him to rediscover the form that made them turn his loan move permanent.
The best chance of that is to put him in his favourite position as the number ten, surrounded by pace and a good finisher and that could happen here against a team who tend to leave a lot of space in midfield.
Gerrard has struggled to choose between Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins this season, but this is an opportunity to field both together.
Watkins’ pace and movement could see him slot into a position on the left wing, while Ings starts as the number nine and looks to add to his rather miserable tally of just nine goals in 37 appearances for the club so far.
Aston Villa predicted XI v Southampton: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, McGinn; Bailey, Coutinho, Watkins; Ings
In other Aston Villa news, Juventus won’t be able to sign Douglas Luiz in January according to a report