Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Brentford - Premier League
Aston Villa begin 2022 by travelling to the capital for a Premier League meeting with last season's Championship playoff winners Brentford.
The Midlands giants have won four of their last five matches at the home of newly-promoted sides, as many victories as they recorded in the previous 22 iterations of this very specific type of fixture.
Here's the XI Steven Gerrard may deploy to keep their streak going.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Brentford - Premier League
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
⚡ @EzriKonsa ⚡ pic.twitter.com/aNAAIigthE
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 23, 2021
Emi Martinez (GK) - The Copa America winner was dubbed a 'beast' by his international captain Lionel Messi after the tournament - a sentiment many a Villa fan may echo.
Matty Cash (RB) - In a defence oddly lacking in quantifiable defensive actions, Cash offers little hesitation when it comes to sticking his boot in.
Ezri Konsa (CB) - The likely recipient of the captain's armband in Tyrone Mings' absence through suspension.
Kortney Hause (CB) - The London-born back-up defender may be called up in place of his skipper to provide the balance their shared left-footedness affords.
Matt Targett (LB) - Last year's Players' Player of the Season hasn't quite hit the heights of the previous campaign, but is showing signs of improvement with the added responsibilities lumbered upon the fullbacks in Gerrard's preferred system.
2. Midfielders
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— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 30, 2021
John McGinn (CM) - The Scotland international's absence through injury is set to be mercifully brief with his return this weekend after only one game missed - his first since the reverse fixture with Brentford.
Douglas Luiz (CM) - The anchor of Villa's midfield for the foreseeable future given the severity of Marvelous Nakamba's knee injury.
Jacob Ramsey (CM) - One of only three English players under the age of 21 to have multiple Premier League goals this season (alongside Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Mason Greenwood of Manchester United).
3. Forwards
Bertrand Traore (RW) - Fit enough for his first appearance off the bench since the first week of October on Boxing Day, Traore could make a maiden start under Gerrard this weekend.
Ollie Watkins (ST) - Brentford's top scorer in 2019/20 (and Villa's last term) was treated to applause from all four corners of Villa Park while warming up as a substitute during the reverse fixture.
Emi Buendia (LW) - With a direct goal contribution in each of his past four league meetings against Brentford (three goals, one assist), Buendia is facing a favourable foe.