MX23RW : Sunday, December 29 12:57:18| >> :600:262608:262608:
Dec 26, 2019 at 3pm UK at ​Villa Park
Attendance: 41,289
Aston Villa
1-0
NorwichNorwich City
Hourihane (64')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Aston Villa vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of the Premier League meeting between Aston Villa and Norwich City on Boxing Day.

Aston Villa and Norwich City square off in the Premier League on Boxing Day with both clubs sitting in the relegation zone.

Neither team have registered a win in their last five outings, leaving the hosts three points adrift of safety and the visitors double that number.


Match preview

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith on October 5, 2019© Reuters

Villa's decision to hand Dean Smith a new long-term contract was supposed to lead to a period of certainty at the West Midlands outfit as they bid to remain in the Premier League.

However, four top-flight defeats in a row, which extends to seven in nine since October 26, has led to the Villans dropping into the bottom three heading into an important period of the season.

Despite the length of Smith's deal, the boyhood supporter is aware that he is under increasing pressure to turn things around, with a win over Norwich going a long way to securing his future for at least another month.

While reaching the EFL Cup semi-finals has also brought Smith extra time, each of their four victories in that competition has come against weakened opposition.

Should Villa fail to arrest their slide against Norwich, and in the trips to Watford and Burnley which follow, the club's hierarchy may be forced to act having already invested significant funds earlier in the year.

Daniel Farke finds himself in a similar position at Carrow Road, although the German will at least have taken positives from the 2-1 defeat versus Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Despite taking a 1-0 lead into half time, the Canaries should have been further ahead, and it ultimately cost them as Wolves rallied after the break.

Norwich now sit six points adrift of 17th-placed Southampton, the same deficit which will be established if Villa prevail in the second city on Thursday.

To a certain extent, it is more of a must-not-lose game for the East Anglian outfit, who can ill afford to be cut adrift ahead of upcoming meetings with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Farke may feel that it is worth taking a gamble, aware that success against their current nearest rivals could act as the catalyst for a much-improved second half of the season.

Aston Villa form: WLDDDD
Aston Villa form (all competitions): DLLLWL

Norwich City Premier League form: WDLLDL


Team News

Jonathan Kodjia has a leg-based celebration after scoring for Aston Villa on April 22, 2019© Reuters

Given Villa's recent poor form, Smith may feel ready to hand Jonathan Kodjia an opportunity in the Premier League.

The Ivorian, who has featured for just 75 minutes in the top flight, could be used on the flank or as a partner to Wesley.

With John McGinn having suffered a broken ankle, Jack Grealish may be moved into a central position.

As for Norwich, Farke is unlikely to make any unforced alterations to his team after their showing against Wolves.

Timm Klose, Ben Godfrey and Josip Drmic all remain out of contention.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Hause, Targett; Luiz, Hourihane; Kodjia, Grealish, Trezeguet; Wesley

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram; Tettey, Trybull; Buendia, McLean, Cantwell; Pukki


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We say: Aston Villa 2-2 Norwich City

With both clubs strongest in attack, there surely must be goals in this match. However, with the stakes relatively high, they could come from mistakes, and we feel that these sides will cancel each other out in a back-and-forth encounter.


body check tags ::

Who will win the Premier League clash on Boxing Day between Aston Villa and Norwich City?

Aston Villa
Draw
Norwich City
Aston Villa
0.0%
Draw
0.0%
Norwich City
0.0%
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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith watches his side beaten by Wolves on November 10, 2019
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Leicester CityLeicester20133443192442
3Manchester CityMan City19122552232938
4Chelsea1910273327632
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd208753223931
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs208663629730
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves197932924530
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd197842317629
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11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle207492030-1025
12Arsenal195952528-324
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14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton206592428-423
15Southampton2064102438-1422
16Bournemouth2055102028-820
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham1954102132-1119
18Aston Villa2053122536-1118
19Watford2037101533-1816
20Norwich CityNorwich2034132140-1913

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