Meanwhile, it’s Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Aston Villa FC 1 – 0 Fulham FC
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:24
In a fairly tepid Premier League contest at Villa Park, European hopefuls Aston Villa and Fulham are split by an early Tielemans header, which sees the hosts leading 1-0 at half-time. The Belgian midfielder met McGinn’s corner-kick to power Villa in front, but further chances were few and far between, as Fulham ended with an xG of 0.18 to the home side’s 0.12. There have been only two shots on target, though Tielemans went close to extending Villa’s advantage shortly before the break, in a game marked by caution – and surely some tension.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:20
HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 1-0 FULHAM
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:19
SAVE! Leno gets his fingertips on a superb strike by Tielemans, who takes a crack from the edge of the box. The ball is apparently bound for the top-right corner, but Fulham’s ‘keeper makes a fine stop! Strangely, the officials then award a goal-kick.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:18
Played in by Iwobi, an ambitious Jimenez decides to let fly from a wide angle, around 25 yards out. His shot spirals high and wide – that was taken more in hope than expectation.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:16
Though they are in front – and have barely been troubled by a flat Fulham side – it has been more than half an hour since Aston Villa last attempted a shot. This is not classic stuff at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:14
After Pau Torres concedes a free-kick after being drawn out wide, Wilson and Lukic stand over the set-piece. It’s the latter who ultimately takes it, but his delivery is cut out by the first man. Fulham are missing their dead-ball specialist Andreas Pereira.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:12
Starved of opportunities to shine so far, Rogers skips away from two defenders and gets the fans out of their seats, but his low throughball lacks accuracy and drifts straight through to Leno.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:11
Fulham are following precedent, as the London club have won just once in their last 20 attempts to claim victory at Villa Park. They’ve lost 12 times along the way, and another defeat now would surely end hopes of matching their best-ever Premier League finish, seventh place.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:08
Lukic sends a 30-yard free-kick across Villa’s box, and space opens up for Jimenez at the back post. Having edged away from Cash, he then slips over and fails to make contact, so it zips behind for a goal-kick to the hosts.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:05
Still trailing by just one at Villa Park, Fulham will still have hope of turning this game around. Only Liverpool (22) and Man City (20) have gained more Premier League points from losing positions than the Cottagers (18) this season.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:03
Having been caught on the knee by a stray boot from Pau Torres, Wilson hobbles away. For a moment, it seems that the Welsh winger’s in some injury trouble, but ultimately he’s fine to carry on.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:02
Yellow Card Kouassi Ryan Sessegnon
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:02
Approaching the half-hour mark, Aston Villa are keeping possession in midfield, hoping to draw Fulham out and create some space behind. Kamara and Tielemans are pulling the strings.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
13:00
A lively presence so far, Sessegnon steals the ball from Rogers and sparks a Fulham counter-attack. However, Iwobi’s cross from the left is cleared away by the first defender, then Cash shuts out Robinson near the box.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:58
Villa eventually get Wilson’s delivery away from danger, following a Fulham corner-kick. Marco Silva must be frustrated with his side so far, as this is a vital game in terms of qualifying for Europe.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:56
This season, Aston Villa have a record of six wins, two draws and no defeats when scoring the opening goal at home in the Premier League. So, it’s no surprise that Opta’s live win predictor gives them a 70% chance of going on to claim maximum points today. Fulham have just an 11% chance, as things stand.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:55
Leno is quickly off his line, sprinting out to collect an incisive throughball by Villa playmaker Tielemans, with Watkins lurking nearby. It’s sharp work from the ever-present German goalkeeper.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:52
Too keen to retrieve the ball, Lukic bundles Kamara over in midfield, gifting Aston Villa a free-kick. So far, Fulham have struggled to get to grips with their hosts – they’ve yet to record an attempt on target.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:50
Not renowned for his aerial prowess, Tielemans has now netted three headers this season. With 10 goal involvements overall, that’s his joint-most in a single Premier League campaign.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:49
Tete is toppled in the Villa box, as he attempts to reach an overhit corner-kick from the right. It was just a collision, though, so he doesn’t appeal for a penalty. Having fallen behind at Villa Park yet again, can Fulham find a quick leveller?
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:46
GOAL!!! VILLA LEAD 1-0! Meeting McGinn’s corner-kick from the right, Tielemans leaps above Wilson and powers a 10-yard header past Leno! The ball nestles in the right side of the net, and Aston Villa take an early lead! The hosts have their reward for a bright start!
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:46
After Fulham flash a dangerous cross along the six-yard box, Villa quickly counter. When Asensio is slipped through on the right, his attempted delivery is blocked behind for another corner.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:46
Assist John McGinn
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:44
So far, Aston Villa have had a 57% share of possession, restricting Fulham to just three entries into the final third. It’s a calm and controlled start, as Emery’s men aim to stop their season ending on a down note.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:41
Asensio takes a corner-kick from the left, playing it short before receiving the ball back from Tielemans. His cross from a more advantageous angle then picks out Watkins, who can’t quite rise high enough and fails to control his header.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:39
After a moment of concern, Asensio is able to return to his feet, following a crunching midfield challenge by Robinson. The Fulham full-back is perhaps a little lucky to avoid being booked.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:38
Persistent work by Watkins seems to have won Villa their first corner, but Tete cleverly manages to halt his opponent’s progress and earn a goal-kick. Moments later, the hosts do earn a first corner, but McGinn’s tame inswinger is easily headed away at the near post.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:35
After a long build-up from the back, Villa mount the game’s first attack, as Rogers tries to flick a lofted ball into the box. However, Bassey is alert to the danger, guiding it away towards a Fulham team-mate.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:33
Fulham kick off, and we are under way in Birmingham!
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:28
Both teams are out on the pitch at Villa Park, so kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:23
Meanwhile, Fulham make a couple of changes to their starting XI: Lukic replaces Andreas Pereira, who fails to make the squad, and Robinson returns from injury to start at left-back, replacing Brazilian winger Willian. That will see Sessegnon shift forward into the visitors’ attack.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:18
Emery opts for just a single change to the Aston Villa side that started last week’s Wembley defeat, as Digne makes way for Maatsen at left-back. Rashford is ruled out with a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for the rest of the season; so Watkins starts up front, having scored in his last three games against Fulham. In midfield, captain McGinn makes his 200th Premier League appearance.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:18
Subs: Steven Banda, Harrison Reed, Tom CaNery, Adama Traore, Carlos Vinicius, Jorge Cuenca, Timothy Castagne, Willian, Emile Smith Rowe.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:18
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson; Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic; Ryan Sessegnon, Harry Wilson, Alex Iwobi; Raul Jimenez.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:13
SUBS: Robin Olsen, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Lucas Digne, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Amadou Onana, Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:13
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Cona, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen; Boubacar Kamara, Youuri Tielemans; Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio, John McGinn; Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:08
Still in the mix for European qualification, Fulham can move within three points of Villa with a win, but recent history suggests that may prove a tough task. The Cottagers have lost the teams’ last four meetings, as well as coming away empty-handed from all of their last five league visits to Villa Park. Marco Silva’s men sit eighth in the table, but inconsistency has stopped them climbing higher: none of their last 14 matches has ended level, with last week’s late win over Southampton making it seven wins and seven defeats.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:08
After exiting the Champions League and suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in last week’s FA Cup semi-finals, Aston Villa’s season rests on their Premier League run-in. Hopes of returning to Europe’s top competition were hit by a last-gasp loss at Manchester City in their last league outing, but the Birmingham club are back on home turf today. Unbeaten in 16 top-flight games at Villa Park, they can move level with their record – also set under Unai Emery in 2023 – by avoiding defeat today.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
12:02
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs Fulham
10:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
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