Overview
- Aston Villa host Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Sunday, August 31, with kick-off at 7:00pm live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
- The fixture moved from Friday due to Palace’s Conference League second leg against Fredrikstad, which they narrowly won to reach the league phase.
- Unai Emery acknowledged Villa’s poor opening to the league campaign after a 0-0 draw with Newcastle and a 1-0 defeat at Brentford.
- Team changes are expected, with Emi Martinez continuing after suspension, Ezri Konsa returning from a one-game ban, a likely Youri Tielemans–Amadou Onana midfield, and a forward call between Donyell Malen, Evann Guessand or Emi Buendia, with Malen having started only twice in the league since January.
- Palace have dominated recent meetings with four wins and 16 goals in the last five clashes, though Villa carry a 19-match home league unbeaten run and are eight home league games unbeaten against Palace.