Aston Villa set to visit Leeds for Thursday night clash

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Danny Ings of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park on March 5, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Danny Ings of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park on March 5, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Aston Villa could win their third-straight match when they visit sinking Leeds for a Premier League clash on Thursday evening.

Fresh off a 4-0 rout of Southampton on Saturday, Villa, in 11th place in the Premier League table with 33 points, could move into ninth place with a win at Leeds.

The Whites are without a win in their last seven PL matches having gone 0-1-6 over that stretch. The lone draw came at Villa park on February 9 when Villa surrendered a 3-1 lead and settled for a 3-3 draw.

Marcelo Bielsa was fired as Leeds manager on February 27 and was replaced by Jesse Marsch. Leeds lost 1-0 at Leicester City in March’s debut on March 5.

Since Leeds’ return to the Premier League last season, this fixture has produced a 1-1-1 record with Villa’s triumph coming on February 27, 2021. Anwar El Ghazi’s fifth-minute tallied fired Villa to a 1-0 win on that day.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Philippe Coutinho of Aston Villa celebrates scoring their team’s second goal with team mates Ollie Watkins, Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Villa Park on February 9, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Philippe Coutinho of Aston Villa celebrates scoring their team’s second goal with team mates Ollie Watkins, Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Villa Park on February 9, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

Leeds vs. Aston Villa team news

Ahead of Thursday’s match, Villa manager Steven Gerrard said “we’ve got the majority of the team fit and available.

“Carney Chukwuemeka will join the group, Ezri Konsa’s back available, Lucas Digne’s back, so I’ve got some tough decisions from now until kick-off. That’s the position I like to be in.”

Marvelous Nakamba is the only first-team regular unavailable to Gerrard.

For Leeds, Marsch says Patrick Bamford will return to the squad.

“He won’t start but he will be ready from the bench, we’re excited to have him back in the team and he will give us a real boost.”

Adam Forshaw and Diego Llorente will be involved but England international Kalvin Phillips will miss out. Liam Cooper’s status is unknown.

Aston Villa projected Starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Douglas Luiz J. Ramsey; Couthinho; Watkins, Ings

Leeds projected Starting XI: Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Struijk, Firpo; Koch, Klich; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James

Date/time: Thursday, March 10 at 7:45 PM BST/2:45 PM EST

Ground: Elland Road

TV/Streaming UK: Amazon Prime Video

TV/Streaming US: Peacock

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