Aston Villa vs Newcastle team news: Lineups confirmed for Premier League six-pointer

Kick off is fast approaching for this evening’s pivotal English top-tier clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park.

Villa boss Unai Emery and Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall, standing in for the hospitalised Eddie Howe, have named their lineups. It’s a crucial game as both teams are gunning for Champions League qualification and there are only five points between them.

A victory for Villa today would be huge in their hunt for European football as it would move them to within just two points of the Toon. It could also be enough to leapfrog Chelsea and Manchester City to move into the top five.

Newcastle, winners of their last five Premier League games, are brimming with confidence. Their last outing - a huge 5-0 win over Crystal Palace - proved that and the Magpies will be eager to carry on their momentum.

Emery, eager to end Newcastle’s run and improve his own chances of a positive result, has named four changes from the starting lineup that beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 on Tuesday night. Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Marco Asensio and Ollie Watkins replace Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, Amadou Onana and Marcus Rashford.

Aston Villa vs Newcastle lineups

Without further ado, here’s how both teams shape up in full.

Villa XI: Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn; Asensio, Watkins.

Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Disasi, Digne, Garcia, Onana, Barkley, Malen, Rashford, Ramsey.

Newcastle XI: Pope (GK); Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Joelinton, Bruno; Murphy, Barnes, Isak.

Newcastle subs: Dubravka (GK), Wilson, Gordon, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.