Villa Park will open its doors on the final day of August when Aston Villa welcome Crystal Palace in a meeting that already feels important for both teams as they try to climb the Premier League table after a middling start.
Villa supporters are waiting for a performance that matches their expectations after watching their team struggle to find goals in the early fixtures, which has left Unai Emery with questions about his attacking combinations.
The absence of Jacob Ramsey following his transfer to Newcastle United and the injury that has ruled Boubacar Kamara out for a stretch has stripped Villa of midfield balance at a time when control in central areas is vital.
Emery has to rejig the midfield to set the tempo while new signings must settle quickly into the pace of the league if Villa are to regain momentum.
For Crystal Palace, the build-up to this game has been headlined by the departure of Eberechi Eze whose £67.5 million ($91.1m) move to Arsenal has left Oliver Gasner searching for answers.
The Austrian manager is now turning towards depth players and emerging talents to carry responsibility in his absence, and this test at Villa Park will be a measure of how far his ideas have already spread through the group.
Injuries have been a factor for Palace as well with several senior names missing across different positions, which has forced tactical adjustments and demanded versatility from those available.
The defensive line in particular has seen changes while the midfield must find new sources of imagination to ensure that Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr are not isolated in attack.
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Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Villa will be boosted by the return of Ezri Konsa for the clash against Crystal Palace after the defender missed the defeat to Brentford due to suspension.
Konsa's comeback will provide stability at the back alongside Pau Torres with Emery likely to stick to his preferred 4-2-3-1 setup.
Villa will, however, remain without Kamara who is sidelined for two to three weeks with a thigh injury, while Andres Garcia Robledo and Ross Barkley are both unavailable. Emery is expected to use Amadou Onana alongside Youri Tielemans in midfield.
Lucas Digne is likely to continue in the left-back position ahead of Ian Maatsen, while in attack, Donyell Malen could make his first start of the season.
Ollie Watkins will once again lead the line, supported by John McGinn and Morgan Rogers in advanced areas.
Aston Villa predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Tielemans, Onana — Malen, McGinn, Rogers — Watkins
Injured: Kamara (thigh), Garcia (other), Barkley (fitness, doubt)
Suspended: None
Crystal Palace head into this meeting with a number of injury concerns and also uncertainty around the future of Marc Guehi, with the England international continuing to be linked with a move to Liverpool.
Should a sale go through before the game, changes in defence would be required with Tyrick Mitchell expected to move inside to cover at centre-back and Nathaniel Clyne an option to slot in at wing-back.
Glasner will be hoping Daichi Kamada is available to start after the midfielder's injury sustained in the Community Shield. His recovery would give Palace a timely boost in the middle of the pitch.
David Ozoh and Reece Devenney remain young options, but the latter is the one expected to feature from the start replacing Eze.
Mateta will again lead the attack, supported by Sarr, while Daniel Munoz will provide width from wing-back.
Palace remain without Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad who are long-term absentees, while Eddie Nketiah and Caleb Kporha are also sidelined. Matheus Franca is being assessed but is not expected to play a part.
Crystal Palace predicted starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Henderson (GK) — Richards, Lacroix, Guehi — Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell — Sarr, Devenny — Mateta
Injured: Doucoure (knee), Riad (knee), Nketiah (thigh), Kporha (back), Franca (adductor, doubt)
Suspended: None
Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace match details
- Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Kickoff time: 7:00 p.m. local time / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
- Location: Villa Park, Birmingham (England)
- Competition: Premier League
- Referee: Stuart Attwell
- VAR: John Brooks
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