Aston Villa — Fulham: Preview
We have the line‑ups for the Aston Villa vs Fulham match in the ninth round of the 2026/27 Premier League.
"Aston Villa" knows how to respond to strong results, but the cup failure has raised doubts. "Fulham" also exited the tournament and now must prove that their ball dominance brings real benefit.
Key points
Aston Villa
1. After a brilliant run, they had to hit the ground
In October, "Aston Villa" finally found good rhythm: they beat "Fenerbahçe" 6-0, won away against "Newcastle" 1-0 and in the next round beat "Manchester City" 2-1. In the Champions League, the Birminghams also beat "Viking" 3-1. However, the cup tie against "Bournemouth" hit hard: 0-3 defeat and elimination from the tournament. Unai Emery introduced nine new players compared to the last starting XI, so the result does not translate directly to the league, but after that night it is crucial to change quickly.
2. Emery will have to drop several players
The squad situation at "Villa" is far from ideal. Amadou Onana will be out for a long time with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Aaron Van Bissac is recovering from a hamstring injury, and Matteo Ruggieri will miss several more weeks with a thigh injury. Defender Modu Keba Sissee has returned to training but must pass an additional fitness test before the match. After the loss to "Bournemouth", Emery will likely return the starting players.
3. Home history favours the Birminghams
In Premier League home matches against "Fulham", the team usually succeeds. In the last 12 games at "Villa Park", the hosts achieved eight wins, two draws and only two defeats. However, recent history reminds us that one cannot relax: in April 2026, "Fulham" beat "Villa" 1-0. The Birminghams, in turn, dominated at home in September 2025: 3-1. The hosts must defend compactly, move the ball quickly and not allow the opponent to dictate the tempo.
Fulham
1. They improved in the league, but the cup failed again
"Fulham" managed to improve their position in the Premier League: they first beat "Hull City" 1-0, then earned three points away against "Coventry" with the same result. Before that, the team had lost to "Ipswich" 1-2, so two consecutive wins were an important step. However, in the League Cup the run was interrupted: "Crystal Palace" won away 1-0 and eliminated "Fulham" from the tournament. Now the team under Alvaro Arbeloa heads to a rival that also suffered a painful cup match. The Londoners can focus on the league, but to do so they need to bring back the sting to the attack.
2. Session will not help, Smith‑Ro is doubtful
The main confirmed loss for "Fulham" is Ryan Sesion. The defender will miss three matches due to suspension after an expulsion in the match against "Hull City", so Arbeloa will have to look for an alternative on the left flank. There are also doubts about Emil Smith‑Ro: before the last round, the midfielder experienced discomfort, although the coach expected his return to training. After the cup defeat, the coach needs not only to update the squad but also to maintain the balance between ball control and play without him, especially away against a team that can penalise quickly for mistakes.
3. Dominance will not be enough
The cup match against "Crystal Palace" showed where "Fulham" has a problem. Arbeloa’s players dominated the ball 74 % of the time, made 14 shots and hit the target four times, but lost 0-1. A large volume of possession did not translate into enough dangerous moments, and the opponent only needed one goal. In the league the team also does not stand out for its effectiveness: after eight rounds, they have scored eight goals. At "Villa Park" they will have to find a more direct path to the goal and pay more attention to losses in the midfield.
Estimated line‑ups 4-2-3-1 4-2-3-1 1-1-1-1
Sujuki14
Torres3
Lindelf22
Matsen2
Cash8
Kamara27
Gorotska7
Makginn44
Manzambi47
Edward11
Jackson1
Leno22
Affengruber3
Bassi21
Castan 33
Robinson15
Larsen19
Charles14
Bobb24
King17
Ivobi7
Garcia
Betting trends
Seven of the last eight direct encounters were won by "Aston Villa". Bet: P1 at 1.98.
In four of the last six direct encounters, both teams scored and in at least three matches both teams scored. Bet: OZ and TB2.5 at 1.95.
Forecast
Aston Villa vs Fulham 01.11.2026 00:00
"Aston Villa" approaches the game after decisive victories over "Newcastle" and "Manchester City", and the 6-0 rout of "Fenerbahçe" confirmed their offensive potential. However, the loss to "Bournemouth" in the League Cup reminded how the team changes with rotations. Emery must return to the basics with the leaders, although injuries to Amadou Onana, Aaron Van Bissac and Matteo Ruggieri limit the options. In favour of the hosts is also history: in the last 12 home Premier League matches against "Fulham" they won eight times. The Londoners also experienced a cup disappointment, losing to "Crystal Palace" 0-1, but before that they won two consecutive league matches: "Hull City" and "Coventry" with the same 1-0 result. Their main task is to add sting at the end: against "Palace" 74 % possession and 14 shots did not produce a goal. Ryan Sesion will not play due to suspension and Emil Smith‑Ro’s preparation remains doubtful. "Villa" seems more convincing due to the quality of recent victories and the home advantage, but it is crucial not to let the visitors control the ball calmly and not repeat cup mistakes.
Forecast: 3-1
