Credit: Imago

Samuel Fabre

Sat 21 March 2026 18:10, UK

West Ham United and Aston Villa will face each other at Villa Park in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Hammers secured a valuable point when they drew to Manchester City last time out, but they still remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.

With eight games to go, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are on course to stay up, but they’ll have their work cut out for them at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s men are firmly in the race to qualify for the Champions League, but a run of three top-flight losses in a row has harmed their European ambitions.

West Ham will be desperate to beat Aston Villa, and here’s everything you need to know about the match at Villa Park.

Form guide

Aston Villa (last six games all comps): W L W L L D

West Ham (last six games all comps): D W W L D W

Head-to-head

Simply put, West Ham have a mixed record against Aston Villa, and the signs aren’t promising for their trip to Birmingham.

West Ham have won 14 matches against Villa in the top flight, while the Villa Park outfit have emerged victorious 16 times.

The other 23 league meetings have ended in draws, which shows how closely fought this match-up has been over the last 33 years.

However, Villa are looking to complete the league double over West Ham for the first time since 2010-11, the last time the Hammers were relegated from the top flight.

The Hammers are also winless in their last six Premier League games against Villa, alternating between a draw and a defeat each time.

The Villans have certainly had the upper hand in recent meetings, but West Ham’s players will be confident that they have enough to win at Villa Park for the first time since 2022.

Team news and predicted lineups

The Hammers will be without Crysencio Summerville, but Nuno should have every other outfield player available to him.

The only change he might make to the side is a tactical one; reverting to a 4-2-3-1 formation in order to have more of the ball against the Villans.

Therefore, Adama Traore could replace Jean-Clair Todibo in the starting lineup, while the rest of the team should remain the same.

As for Villa, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans are unavailable, but Matty Cash has returned to full fitness after spending two weeks on the sidelines.

Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Sancho, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins

West Ham predicted XI: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Fernandes, Soucek; Bowen, Pablo, Adama; Castellanos

We say: Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham

The Hammers know how tough it is to secure a positive result against Villa, but this weekend’s meeting could be different.

After a brilliant start to the season, Emery’s side have only won three out of their last 11 Premier League games.

As a result, they are now in a dogfight to qualify for the Champions League, despite looking so comfortable at the start of 2026.

The Hammers are in fine form, and the players have momentum behind them, which is what the club desperately need at this moment in time.

Although it may be slightly optimistic, West Ham have had five extra days to prepare for the game due to Villa’s exploits in the Europa League, and a 1-1 draw with Villa could be the likely outcome.