Why Unai Emery has already given a hint how Aston Villa will line up vs Brighton

Aston Villa are now looking ahead to the start of their Premier League campaign next Sunday after concluding their pre-season programme.

The Villans have had a mixed pre-season and finished it off in exactly that fashion.

Unai Emery's side travelled to face Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday and fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Tim Kleindienst bagged a first-half brace before John McGinn halved the deficit with a second half strike.

The result may be frustrating, but there were some pointers to take back to Bodymoor Heath.

The starting XI ready to face Brighton on the opening day of the Premier League season is now the biggest talking point, and there may be a perfect hint staring us straight into the face.

Who could start for Aston Villa vs Brighton?

There are so many frustrating injury and fitness decisions surrounding the Villans right now.

Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez missed out against PSG after the World Cup.

Brian Madjo and Joao Gomes are also set for a spell on the sidelines to join Amadou Onana and Johan Manzambi.

That has left many to question what sort of side will be available against Brighton, but Emery's second-half line-up against Monchengladbach could be the perfect clue.

Marco Bizot was in goal, joined by a back four of Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen.

Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley started ahead of those with Emi Buendia slightly ahead.

Alysson and McGinn featured out wide, while Tammy Abraham featured up top.

That could prove to be the best option for Emery right now, but how could that side fare at the Amex?

Aston Villa have blueprint to beat Brighton

The Seagulls have also had a mixed summer of results having lost two against Leeds and Manchester United, before wins against Roma and Bologna.

Against the latter, they secured a 1-0 win and maintained 59 per cent possession, while creating four big chances and taking 20 shots.

That came off the back of their fluid formation, where their attacking options Diego Gomez, Georginio Rutter and Pascal Gross are pretty fluid.

Villa can use that to their advantage, especially with Mings potentially set to start as a physical presence at the heart of defence.

The biggest responsibility will fall to Abraham and whether he can find the net after doing so just twice in claret and blue last season.

There are ways that Villa can get at the Seagulls, even if they are being hit hard by injuries already.