At A Glance
Villa Park opens its doors for the first time in 2024 as Newcastle United come to town on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa have started the year with three consecutive away games, playing out 0-0 draws with Everton and Chelsea in addition to a 1-0 success against Middlesbrough.
The hosts come into the match in fourth place, level with the two teams above them on 43 points.
Newcastle were threatening the top four once again this term before a tough run of results in December and January.
The Magpies have won just two of their last eight top flight contests, losing the other six.
Eddie Howe’s team will be looking to build upon a pair of victories in the FA Cup this month that have taken them into the fifth round.
Standout Stats
The away team hasn't won this fixture in 16 league meetings since Newcastle's 2-1 triumph at Villa Park in September 2013.
Villa can equal their record, set versus Oldham, of seven consecutive top-flight home clean sheets against the same club. It would also match Newcastle's longest run of successive top-flight away games against a single opponent without scoring.
Newcastle have conceded 32 league goals this season, one shy of their final tally in 2022-23.
Aston Villa's tally of 13 wins and 43 points is their best record after 21 top-flight fixtures of a season for 125 years.
Newcastle have lost six of their past seven league matches and could suffer five straight defeats in the division for the first time in three years.
Villa have the division's best home record so far this season, with 28 points out of a possible 30.
On Tuesday, Villa could go 18 home league matches unbeaten for the first time since the 1976-77 season. Their most recent league defeat at Villa Park came against Arsenal last February.
United’s solitary league away win this season was 8-0 at Sheffield United in September. The Magpies have only managed two points and eight goals from their other nine top-flight away fixtures this season.
Ollie Watkins needs one Premier League goal to become only the third player to reach 50 for Villa, and will achieve that feat in fewer games than Gabby Agbonlahor and Dwight Yorke.
A sixth successive Premier League away defeat would be Newcastle’s worst run since a streak of nine from December 2015 to April 2016.
Eddie Howe has won six games as a manager against Aston Villa, second only to his seven victories versus Everton.
The Last Meeting
Newcastle United recorded a resounding 5-1 success against Aston Villa when the teams did battle on the opening weekend of the season.
Moussa Diaby bagged his maiden goal for the club in the first half but the visitors trailed to strikes from Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak at half-time.
Further goals from Isak, Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes made for a tough day on Tyneside for Villa.
Team News
Unai Emery is likely to have an unchanged squad at his disposal for Tuesday’s visit of Newcastle United.
Midfielder Jacob Ramsey is doubtful, while Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Jhon Durán remain sidelined, joining long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendía.
Bertrand Traoré remains at the Africa Cup of Nations with Burkina Faso as they prepare for their Round of 16 tie against Mali.
Newcastle are hoping Miguel Almirón will be ready to return after missing their weekend win at Fulham.
Jamaal Lascelles is likely to be absent with a calf injury, while the Magpies have a host of players out injured such as Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson.
The Boss
“They were really unlucky in the Champions League, particularly in their last match. They have some key players injured. They have a very good coach, they’re a very good club and they have very good players. Their best performance could be tomorrow with the level they have. We are going to respect them and the individual players they have. We are going to be ready, focusing and concentrating on stopping them.”
Unai Emery
