At A Glance
Aston Villa’s Premier League campaign comes to a close against Brighton and Hove Albion at Villa Park on Sunday.
There’s plenty riding on the final 90 minutes of the season for the hosts, who are looking to secure a seventh-place finish and a first appearance in European competition since 2010.
Following last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool, Unai Emery’s team hold a one point advantage over eighth-place Tottenham Hotspur and are two points ahead of Brentford in ninth.
A fine goal from Julio Enciso on Wednesday night earned Brighton the point they needed to secure a sixth-place finish.
The draw against champions Manchester City once again underlined the Seagulls’ quality, and their away form has been a major part of their success this season.
Roberto De Zerbi’s team possess the fourth-best away record in the top flight, taking 28 points from 18 games.
Standout Stats
Aston Villa are vying to beat the Seagulls in four successive league meetings for the first time.
Brighton & Hove Albion's only competitive victory over Villa in the past 15 attempts came away in the Premier League in November 2020.
Villa will secure a place in the Europa Conference League play-off round - their first continental competition for 13 years - if they win. A draw would be enough if both Tottenham and Brentford fail to win, as would a defeat should Spurs lose and Brentford fail to win.
Brighton are guaranteed to finish as high as sixth for the first time in the top flight.
Villa can equal the club Premier League record of seven consecutive home victories, set from December 1992 to February 1993.
Only Arsenal and Manchester City can better Albion's tally of eight Premier League away wins this season.
An 18th Premier League win of the season would also equal Villa's best in a 38-match season, set in 1995-96.
Brighton have scored 34 top-flight away goals in 2022-23, second only to Arsenal. Brighton's current 13-match scoring league streak on the road is their longest since a run of 16 between August 2009 and February 2010 in League One.
Ollie Watkins needs one goal to become the first Villa player to reach 15 in a top-flight season since Christian Benteke a decade ago.
Brighton players are responsible for 11 of the 20 Premier League goals scored by teenagers this season.
Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Buendia have played in all 37 of Aston Villa's Premier League games this season.
Danny Welbeck has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances at Villa Park, for three different clubs: Manchester United, Arsenal and Brighton.
The Last Meeting
Aston Villa showed their mettle to recover from a goal down to beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium in November.
Alexis Mac Allister put the Seagulls ahead with just 46 seconds played, but Danny Ings drew Villa level from the penalty spot later in the half.
And Ings proved to be the match-winner in the second half when he kept his cool to score his second after 54 minutes.
Team News
Alex Moreno’s season was ended by a hamstring injury picked up against Liverpool last weekend.
Diego Carlos and Calum Chambers are available to return to the fold, while Philippe Coutinho misses out.
Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk missed out in midweek with a back problem but could return at Villa Park.
Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder, Jeremy Sarmiento, Solly March and Tariq Lamptey remain out for the Seagulls.
The Boss
"It’s not only about my work or my experiences or my analysis, it’s about trying to watch other coaches. One of them is Roberto De Zerbi. I like coaches who can show us something different tactically, offensively and defensively. In football you have to be in the fast train because it moves so quickly. You have to be very aware about how everything is changing and try to adapt very quickly, to progress very quickly and to understand quickly the changes. He is a coach here in England doing something different.”
Unai Emery
