Just two weeks after Graham Potter's first game against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, The Hammers travel to Villa Park once again on Sunday as they face The Villains in the Premier League.
It was a game to forget for Potter in his last game against Crystal Palace as a brace from Jean Phillipe-Mateta gave Palace all three points at the London Stadium.
Villa’s five-game unbeaten streak came to an end in the Champions League on Tuesday against Monaco as Wilfred Singo’s early goal was the difference between the two sides. In the Premier League, Villa came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Arsenal at the Emirates in the previous game.
West Ham will be out for revenge in this one after Villa came from behind to win 2-1 in the FA Cup thanks to goals from Amadou Onana and Morgan Rogers. There was controversy in that game as the referee incorrectly gave a corner which led to the Villains' first goal.
A win here for Villa could push them right back into the Champions League fight whilst West Ham would move further from the relegation zone and into mid-table with three points at Villa Park.
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Team News
Amadou Onana went off injured in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal with a hamstring injury which has ruled him out ahead of this one. John McGinn, Pau Torres, Ross Barkley all remain out until at least February.
West Ham are in a bit of an injury crisis at the moment at both ends as in attack they are missing Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug, and Crysencio Summerville all unavailable for this one with Summerville looking most likely to return to the squad.
Whilst in defence, the Hammers have one senior centre-back available in Max Kilman as Jean-Clair Todibo is injured and Konstantinos Mavropanos is suspended after being sent off against Crystal Palace in the previous game.
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Likely Line-Ups
Martinez; Digne, Mings, Konsa, Cash, Kamara, Tielemans, Buendia, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins.
Fabianski; Emerson, Cresswell, Kilman, Casey, Wan-Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Soler, Paqueta, Kudus.
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Key Players
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
The England International has been in Jhon Duran shadow a bit this season after some of the Colombian’s heroics this season but the former Brentford man has still scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season.
The 29-year-old has scored two in the last two in the Premier League against Everton and the equaliser against Arsenal in the last game.
West Ham- Carlos Soler
Soler was unusually left out of the starting eleven in the last game by Potter despite being pivotal in the 3-2 victory over Fulham, scoring the opening goal of the game.
The PSG loanee will be hoping for a return to the team after many Hammers have called for Potter to implement the Spaniard back into his side.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The match will take place at Villa Park
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off will take place at 16:30 GMT on Sunday 26th January
Where can I watch?
The game will be shown on Sky Sports
