Alex Keble analyses where the weekend's matches could be won and lost, including:
- Can West Ham frustrate Aston Villa again?
Stodgy West Ham can halt Villa’s home streak
West Ham United are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches against Villa (W6 D4) in a run that stretches back to May 2015, winning each of the last three encounters at Villa Park.
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They are a bogey team for Villa, of that there is no doubt. Even Unai Emery’s incredible run of 10 consecutive league wins at Villa Park might not be enough to beat the jinx.
West Ham’s particular tactical style is not something Villa will enjoy facing. David Moyes likes to pack the middle of the pitch, expertly compressing space between the lines by rarely pressing opponents who pass out from the back.
Only Luton have a lower possession average than West Ham’s 37.9 per cent while the Hammers' PPDA of 17.3 is the second highest behind Nottingham Forest.
Emery’s Villa like to create chances by luring the opposition press before splitting lines, a reactive style that doesn’t tend to work as well against conservative teams unwilling to be lured into the trap – hence the dour 1-1 draw with Wolves a fortnight ago, in which Villa had just three shots on target prior to Mario Lemina’s red card.
West Ham are well placed to continue their brilliant record against their hosts, denying Villa the victory that would give them their best start to a Premier League campaign since 1998/99 – the year they were top of the table at Christmas.
