Villa Home Win — Superior Quality and West Ham Away Horror

Villa's form has collapsed — three straight Premier League defeats have put pressure on the squad and the manager. A home win here is essential to maintain 4th place.

18th-placed West Ham have 29 points with ten games remaining. Their W-D-L-D-D run shows they cannot find consistency when it matters most.

Despite Villa's poor results, Emiliano Martinez continues to perform at a high individual level. His shot-stopping has limited the damage in recent defeats.

Jarrod Bowen has gone five consecutive matches without scoring, a worrying trend for a West Ham side that rely heavily on his output.

Ollie Watkins (14 goals) is recovering from a minor knock. Unai Emery will not decide on his selection until the morning of the match.

Julen Lopetegui is expected to prioritise defensive organisation over attacking intent as West Ham look for any kind of positive result away from home.

Growing frustration among fans following the losing streak. Both the playing staff and management will feel the weight of expectation on Sunday.

Reports suggest David Moyes faces the sack if West Ham lose again. The board has not made a statement but sources close to the club indicate patience is running thin.

Currently 4th with 51 points, a loss could allow Chelsea or Newcastle to leapfrog them. This is must-win territory for Villa.

Lucas Paqueta has been West Ham's most creative player in recent weeks, showing sharp movement and linking play. His influence could be decisive.

Leon Bailey has returned to form in recent matches, showing the pace and directness that makes him such a threat. West Ham's left side will be tested.

Financial analysis shows that dropping to the Championship would strip more than £50 million from West Ham's revenue, adding commercial pressure to the sporting battle.

Aston Villa's head coach acknowledged the poor recent form but insisted the tactics are sound — it is the execution that needs to improve.

Only one away win all season — the statistics paint a damning picture of West Ham's inability to travel well in 2025/26.

Villa Park has been a fortress this season with a 70% home win rate. West Ham will know they are entering hostile territory.

Aston Villa have dominated this fixture in recent history — four wins from the last five, including a 4-1 hammering at Villa Park in February 2024.

Mohammed Kudus picked up a knock in training. His status ahead of the Villa trip remains uncertain, potentially leaving West Ham short of attacking options.

The Brazilian's return from injury has lifted Villa's passing quality and midfield control. His ability to dictate play will be crucial.

With ten games left and seven points separating West Ham from the bottom three, the margin for error has all but disappeared.

The official supporters' trust issued a statement asking for greater effort and passion from the squad following the three-match losing streak.