Aston Villa face Burnley with a new lease of life with Steven Gerrard in the dugout. The sample size is still small but four wins out of six compared to five defeats in succession before his arrival is undeniably outstanding and has led to Villa moving up to 10th. Phasing out Danny Ings, the usual injury problems making that decision easier, for last season’s driving force Ollie Watkins appears to be working well. Sean Dyche will naturally be concerned by their uptick in form but he can count on his stalwarts to block and batter the opposition. Dyche’s biggest problem is focal attacking point Maxwel Cornet looking likely to miss another game through injury. No Cornet signals little threat and a chance for the Gerrard regeneration to gain further momentum. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue Villa Park
Last season Aston Villa 0 Burnley 0
Referee Andrew Madley
This season G8 Y14 R2 2.25 cards/game
Odds H 3-4 A 4-1 D 3-1
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Archer, Hause, Bogarde, Tuanzebe, Ings, Young, Marshall, Philogene-Bidace, Trezeguet, Iroegbunam
Doubtful None
Injured Traoré (hamstring, Jan), Bailey (hamstring, unknown), Nakamba (knee, unknown), Sanson (Covid-19), Steer (Covid-19), El Ghazi (Covid-19)
Suspended None
Discipline Y35 R1
Form WWLWLW
Leading scorer Watkins 5
BURNLEY
Subs from Hennessey, Norris, Pieters, Bardsley, Thomas, Lennon, Long, Rodriguez, Cork, Collins, Vydra
Doubtful Cornet (hamstring)
Injured Barnes (hamstring, unknown), Roberts (illness, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y34 R0
Form WDDDLD
Leading scorer Cornet 5
