• Aston Villa have won five out of seven Premier League fixtures this season.
• Brighton are without a victory in six Premier League games.
• Brighton have scored in seven out of eight Premier League matches this term.
• Brighton scored exactly once in each of their Premier League meetings with Villa in 2019/20.

Aston Villa have eyes on top four

Aston Villa continue to punch above their weight this season, and the Villains’ superb 3-0 demolition job on Arsenal before the international break put them within touching distance of the Premier League’s top four.

Dean Smith’s charges had their confidence knocked following successive defeats at home to Leeds (0-3) and Southampton (3-4) before their impressive response at the Emirates, and an improved performance at Villa Park against Brighton this weekend will be demanded.

Villa’s talisman Jack Grealish – who has notched four goals and five assists in seven Premier League starts this season – was in sparkling form for England during the international break, and the influential 25-year-old will hope to be his team’s difference maker again against the Seagulls.

Win continues to elude Brighton

Despite ranking among the top eight teams for average shots registered per game (13.1) and conceding fewer attempts per 90 minutes (7.1) than any other team in the division, Graham Potter’s Albion just cannot find a win.

Brighton have now gone six matches without a Premier League victory, and their return of one win from their first eight games overall this season has left them just two places above the drop zone.

The Seagulls easy on the eye approach play is often undermined by a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, and Albion have scored one or fewer goals in 20 out of 26 Premier League fixtures in 2020 so far.

Villa to outgun their visitors

Brighton’s inability to turn good football into good results makes them vulnerable visitors again this weekend, and an Aston Villa team lead by the creative prowess of Jack Grealish look well-priced to take advantage of the Seagulls’ plight at Villa Park.

With five wins from seven Premier League fixtures this term – including victories against Liverpool, Leicester and Arsenal – Villa have made a fabulous start to the 2020/21 campaign, and having already recovered from a wobble by beating the Gunners before the international break, the Villains look ready to kick on at Brighton’s expense.

Albion’s run of six games without success would have left their confidence at a low ebb, and with fitness concerns around Solly March, Leandro Trossard and Aaron Connolly to contend with, things look stacked against them.

Alongside our home win forecast, we also like the look of a 2-1 Villa win for our correct score prediction. Despite their poor results, Brighton have scored in seven out of eight Premier League matches this season – though as we discussed earlier, Albion rarely hit the net more than once.

Brighton notched exactly once in three of their last four Premier League outings and in each of their two meetings with Villa last season. The Seagulls were beaten 2-1 that day in fact, when they last visited Villa Park in October last year, and we envisage a similar outcome developing in the teams’ rematch on Saturday.

Anytime goalscorer tip: Ollie Watkins

Ollie Watkins has made a real splash since swapping the Championship for the Premier League in the summer, and the striker’s six goals so far included a brace last time out against Arsenal.

With Ross Barkley and Jack Grealish supplying the chances, Watkins is certain to have opportunities to score on Saturday, and in his current form, the 24-year-old looks capable of taking one.

Aston Villa injuries and team news

Bjorn Engels and Frederic Guilbert have been ruled out for Aston Villa, while Wesley and Tom Heaton are still on the comeback trail and won’t feature.

Bertrand Traore is available again, though he is likely to start from the bench against Brighton.

Brighton injuries and team news

Florin Andone and Alexi Mac Allister are both out for Brighton, while Jose Izquierdo, Solly March, Leandro Trossard are all rated as doubtful for the Seagulls.

Skipper Lewis Dunk is available again following his suspension however.