Fulham vs. Aston Villa: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Aston Villa are in very good form heading into this one, unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions, winning six of those. Fulham, on the other hand, have won only two of their last seven home games in the league.

Both teams to score has occurred in four of both sides' last five games in the Premier League, and both of the last two meetings between the two teams.

Aston Villa have really dominated the head-to-head matchups between these two sides, winning all of the last four meetings. On that basis, we think the visitors look well positioned to claim a big three points. Fulham 1-2 Aston Villa.

This Saturday's Premier League clash between Fulham and Aston Villa should be an interesting encounter, with both sides enjoying strong starts to the season.

• Date: 19/10/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Craven Cottage, West London

Fulham’s position in the top half of the table after seven matches marks a solid start to their campaign, and they appear to be heading in the right direction under Marco Silva, with expectations around Craven Cottage being that the Cottagers will look to push on from their mid-table finish last season after a fairly significant summer of investment, and so far they are delivering on that promise.

One of the key new signings, Emile Smith Rowe, has adapted well to his new surroundings after arriving from Arsenal, with his creativity in midfield giving Fulham an added dimension, allowing the team to be more versatile in attack. Meanwhile, Joachim Andersen, brought in to bolster the defence, has already shown his value with a string of strong performances, as the Danish centre-back’s composure at the back has added stability to Fulham’s backline, making them a more sturdy defensive unit.

Another significant factor in Fulham’s strong start is the resurgence of Raúl Jiménez. The 33-year-old striker arrived at the club with questions about whether he could rediscover his best form after his horror injury a few years back, but he has so far silenced those doubts with a good return of three goals so far this season. Jiménez looks rejuvenated and has contributed well not only with goals but also in his all-around play, holding up the ball and linking up with teammates effectively, and if he can continue his form, Fulham will feel confident of mounting a serious push for a European place.

Marco Silva deserves credit for his tactical flexibility, which has been a hallmark of Fulham’s play. Unlike some managers in the Premier League, Silva does not adhere rigidly to a single style of football, opting to adapt his tactics so that they best suit both the players at his disposal and the opposition on the pitch. While many teams at the top prioritise building play slowly from the back and playing possession-based football, Silva does not fall victim to such dogma.

On the other side of the pitch, Aston Villa come into this match in fine form, having secured 14 points from their opening seven games. Unai Emery has built on the success of last season, when Villa managed to finish 4th, and the club looks capable of competing on multiple fronts this time around. However, juggling their domestic and European ambitions will undoubtedly test the depth of their squad over the course of the season, something that has been the undoing of many sides in the past.

Villa’s attacking firepower has been one of their standout features in the early stages of the campaign, with Jhon Durán and Ollie Watkins having both scored four goals each in the league, a level of firepower that most teams in this league cannot match. Watkins, in particular, continues to build on his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable forwards, while Durán is showing plenty of promise after being integrated more into the starting lineup this term.

Beyond their strikers, Youri Tielemans has also been a key performer in midfield, offering both creativity and defensive stability, with his ability to dictate play from the centre of the park giving Villa greater control in matches, and he has quickly become one of Emery’s most trusted players. Morgan Rogers is also significantly enhancing his reputation as one of the best prospects in the country.

If Villa can find a way of successfully managing their squad while competing in both the Premier League and the Champions League they could do something special again this season. The club, Under Unai Emery, is in such a good place and they'll aim to keep going from strength to strength.

This game will not be televised live in the UK, but partial radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio WM.

Fulham Team News:

Fulham come into this game without the services of Vinícius and Jorge Cuenca, both of whom are a few weeks away from returning yet.

Joachim Andersen is also a doubt with a knock, and if he's deemed unfit then Issa Diop will likely start in his place.

Predicted lineup: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukić; Adama, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.

Aston Villa Team News:

Aston Villa are dealing with some fairly significant injuries with Amadou Onana, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey all on the treatment table. None are majorly serious, but all are a few weeks away from a return.

Tyrone Mings, though, could return to the matchday squad after a very long period of absence with an ACL injury.

Predicted lineup: Martínez; Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, Philogene; Watkins.

Fulham's form is somewhat mixed with the Cottagers having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five in all competitions. Last time out, Fulham were toppled by champions Manchester City in a 3-2 defeat. Fulham were very competitive in the game and took the lead through Andreas Pereira in the 26th minute, but City fought back to go 3-1 up before Rodrigo Muniz pulled one back off the bench.

Before that, Fulham claimed consecutive wins against Nottingham Forest (1-0) and Newcastle United (3-1), which followed a penalty shootout defeat to Preston North End in the EFL Cup and a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

Villa are entering this game in good shape having lost only one game in all competitions this season. Unai Emery's side last took to the pitch in a 0-0 draw against Manchester United. In a game low in quality, Villa were the better side and the team trying the hardest to win the game, but United set up to frustrate Villa and they found life tough.

That result followed a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which came after an entertaining 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town, a 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup and a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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