Brighton vs Aston Villa - Premier League: Team news, lineups & prediction
Brighton welcome Aston Villa to the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoon for their final Premier League match before the World Cup.
Last November, Roberto De Zerbi and Unai Emery were both overseeing Champions League ties. Now, 12 months on, they will pit their lauded wits against one another with two clubs that finished outside the top eight last season.
Here's everything you need to know about a match which serves as a potent reminder of the Premier League's managerial strength in depth.
Where are Brighton vs Aston Villa playing?
- Location: Falmer, England
- Stadium: Amex Stadium
- Date: Sunday 13 November
- Kick-off Time: 14:00 GMT / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT
- VAR: Jarred Gillett
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Brighton vs Aston Villa H2H Results (Last Five Games)
Brighton: 1 Win
Aston Villa: 2 Wins
Draws: 2
Current Form (Last Five Games)
Brighton: DLWWW
Aston Villa: LWLWL
Brighton team news
De Zerbi was able to rest a number of key players and still claim victory away to Arsenal in the midweek round of Carabao Cup clashes. Aside from the long-term absentee Jakub Moder, De Zerbi should have a full and rested squad to select from.
Brighton predicted lineup vs Aston Villa
Brighton Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Mac Allister, Caicedo; March, Lallana, Mitoma; Trossard.
Bench: Steele, Lamptey, Colwill, Welbeck, Sarmiento, Enciso, Undav, Gilmour, Gross.
Aston Villa team news
Emery confirmed that Philippe Coutinho will not be available until after the World Cup-enforced hiatus due to a thigh injury.
Diego Carlos is still recuperating from surgery on his Achilles but Leander Dendoncker will be available again. The former Wolves midfielder was cup-tied for the midweek loss to Manchester United after starting Emery's first Premier League match in charge.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Brighton
Aston Villa Starting 11 (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Ramsey, Dendoncker, Luiz, Buendia; Bailey, Watkins.
Bench: Olsen, McGinn, Sanson, Ings, Chambers, Augustinsson, Young, Bednarek, Kamara.
Brighton vs Aston Villa score prediction
While Emery's start to life as Villa manager has been limited to a double-header with Manchester United, winning in the league and losing the cup tie, De Zerbi has had two months to get his message across to Brighton's talented and tactically astute squad.
Both managers have already shown that they want to lure the opposition forward with choreographed build-up play. Not only has De Zerbi had longer to drill these routines into his players but they are used to a technical game after Graham Potter's tenure.
In what could be an intriguing battle between two revered tacticians, Villa's wait for a first Premier League away win of the season may drag into the new year.
Prediction: Brighton 2-1 Aston Villa
