Even the most optimistic Aston Villa fan could not have dreamt the journey Unai Emery has taken them since his appointment on 24 October 2022.
The Midlands side have had an outstanding season, winning every match at Villa Park this season, extending a record home run to 16 matches, to go only a single point off top spot.
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But Villa's home form is only one side of the coin, they have improved their away record considerably in the last few weeks, which is why many consider them to be title challengers this season.
And Villa's supporters could be in dreamland on Friday night if they beat bottom team Sheffield United.
A 16th home victory in a row will put them top of the Premier League table for a day at least and for the first time since 8 January 1999 after at least 18 matches played.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man City
MCI
|
38 | +62 | 91 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
38 | +62 | 89 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
38 | +45 | 82 |
| 4 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
38 | +15 | 68 |
The possibility of Villa going top also points to how open the title race has been in 2023/24.
If they do move into first, then Villa will become the eighth side to sit in the No 1 spot overnight this season, joining Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.
It would be only the sixth time as many as eight teams have finished a day top in a single Premier League campaign, with only 2020/21 having more, with nine.
History shows that Villa have every right to feel confident going into the match. Alongside their incredible winning run at Villa Park, they have not lost to Sheff Utd at home in nearly 60 years. They have also claimed three points in their last five matches against promoted sides.
Who was in Villa's side the last time they went top?
The last time Villa were No 1 overnight was nearly 25 years ago, on 28 December 1998. They beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 to go top and remained there until 8 January 1999.
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But who was in Villa's XI on that day? Current England manager Gareth Southgate started in defence, and scored the opening goal. Dion Dublin was named in attack in his first season at the club and Gareth Barry was just beginning his career in the Premier League, featuring in only his second season in the top flight.
John Gregory's team secured a 2-1 win that day thanks to Ugo Ehiogu's 85th-minute winner.
The climb to the top, however, proved a false dawn 25 years ago for Villa. They accumulated only 16 more points in their final 18 league matches and had to settle for a sixth-placed finish.
With their current form and with Emery in charge, do not expect such a drop-off for this season's Villa and, with a kind run of festive fixtures ahead their fans have every right to head into the new year with high ambitions.