Fixtures
- Newcastle United Vs. Aston Villa – Thu, Dec 26th 2024, 15:00
Aston Villa look for back-to-back Premier League victories this afternoon, with a Boxing Day trip to Newcastle United (3pm).
Unai Emery’s side will take confidence from a dominant display against the reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday, which secured a 2-1 victory at Villa Park.
They have now won four of their last five matches in all competitions, and will look to pull closer to the Premier League’s top four at St. James’ Park.
To do so, they will need to overcome an unfavourable recent run of results against the Magpies, which has seen them won just one of the previous five meetings.
Eddie Howe’s side find themselves in a rich vein of form heading into the clash, following a 4-0 victory on the road at Ipswich Town over the weekend.
They have won their last three in all competitions, scoring 11 goals, and currently sit just two points behind Villa in eighth in the Premier League table.
Stats
Only Chris Wood (5) has scored more winning goals in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán (4), while the Colombian has the best minutes-per-goal ratio in the competition this term (one every 80 minutes).
Alexander Isak has scored 23 Premier League goals in 2024, with only Erling Haaland (26) and Cole Palmer (25) netting more. The only Newcastle players to score more across a single calendar year in the competition are Alan Shearer (27 in 2002) and Andrew Cole (24 in 1994).
In his last three Premier League games, Jacob Murphy has provided two assists against Brentford, scored two goals against Leicester, and scored and assisted against Ipswich. No Newcastle player has ever been involved in multiple goals in four consecutive Premier League appearances.
Aston Villa have lost their last four Premier League away games, as many as in their previous 17 on the road (W9 D4). They last lost more consecutively away from home in a single campaign between February and May 2016 (7).
After a run of two wins in 11 Premier League games, Newcastle have won both of their last two matches by a 4-0 scoreline (vs Leicester and Ipswich). The Magpies have never won three consecutive league games by 4+ goals before, while the last side to do so in the Premier League were Manchester City in May 2022.
Aston Villa have lost on Boxing Day in each of the last three seasons, conceding three goals in each defeat. Only once have they lost on the day in four consecutive league campaigns, doing so between 1932/33 and 1935/36.
Newcastle have lost their last three Boxing Day home games, including a 3-1 loss against Nottingham Forest last year. It’s their longest such losing streak in their league history.
Newcastle (16) and Aston Villa (15) have lost more Premier League games on Boxing Day than any other sides in the competition’s history.
Aston Villa have lost four of their last five Premier League games against Newcastle (W1), including both meetings last season. They last lost three in a row against the Magpies between January 2013 and February 2014.
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League home games against Aston Villa (W9 D6), since a 3-0 loss in April 2005. They’ve won the last three in a row by an aggregate score of 10-1.
The Last Meeting
The last meeting between the two sides saw Newcastle complete a Premier League double over Aston Villa, with a 3-1 win at Villa Park in January.
Fabian Schär’s quickfire double just after the half-hour put Eddie Howe’s team 2-0 up, before Álex Moreno’s own-goal just after the break gave the Toon a three-goal cushion.
Ollie Watkins pulled a goal back for Villa, and had another effort in the net, though it was ruled out for offside, as the visitors hung on to deal Unai Emery’s men a first home defeat of the season.
Team News
Diego Carlos and Jacob Ramsey will be assessed for Unai Emery’s side ahead of the clash, with both looking to complete their returns from injury.
Villa should otherwise have a similar squad available to the one which defeated Manchester City – a game which saw Leon Bailey return to the bench and Amadou Onana reinstated to the starting XI.
Eddie Howe confirmed Joe Willock would be available, having appeared to take a knock against Ipswich at the weekend. Joelinton will also return from suspension and should be fit, despite sustaining facial injuries against Brentford earlier this month.
Nick Pope, Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth and Callum Wilson remain long-term absentees for the Toon. Sven Botman is nearing a return, but won’t be ready in time for Boxing Day.
Managers’ Pre-Match Thoughts
“It is going to be very difficult because we know in Newcastle with their supporters, it is a very strong stadium for them, difficult for the opponent. I respect the coach, I respect the players, I respect the club. It’s our big motivation on Thursday to play there.” – Unai Emery
“We had two games against Aston Villa last season. This will be a really good challenge for us. I think they have good depth in their squad, they have some really good players. Their style is very difficult to play against, very well coached, very well drilled.” – Eddie Howe
