Aston Villa take on Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend in what shapes up to potentially be one of the best Premier League fixtures of the 2023/24 season.
Both qualifiers for Europe last term, Villa and Brighton have ruffled the feathers of the top seven consistently over the last 12 months and are hoping to go one step further this campaign.
Unai Emery and Roberto De Zerbi have established themselves as two of the greatest tacticians in the division but only one team can come out on top this weekend.
The last four meetings between the sides have gone Villa’s way, with two 2-1 scorelines and a double of 2-0s. Emery is eager to make it five in five while Albion want to end the streak.
Rotating back to a stronger lineup from the 2-1 defeat to Everton midweek, here are the 11 players we think will start in claret and blue on Saturday afternoon.
9. LM - Nicolo Zaniolo
Oozes class whenever he touches the ball and has the directness needed to hit Brighton on the counter. | Getty Images
10. CAM/CF - Moussa Diaby
The Frenchman’s pace on the half-turn could hurt Albion and so Emery looks set to decide on keeping the £52 million signing in the XI, even with the fixture congestion. | Getty Images
11. ST - Ollie Watkins
Should be the undisputed first choice striker despite Jhon Duran’s form. Watkins is more consistent and has the physicality to deal with Lewis Dunk and Igor Julio. | Getty Images