By OkayGoal
Aston Villa and Fulham both arrive at Villa Park chasing a third Premier League win in a row, and both are trying to shake off an early Carabao Cup exit.
Unai Emery‘s side were the first to beat league leaders Manchester City last weekend, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice in a 2-1 win. That took them up to ninth, two points behind Chelsea in fifth.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham went six league games without a win before beating Hull City and Coventry City 1-0, moving up from 15th. They are one point clear of Manchester United and three behind the top six.
Aston Villa vs Fulham kickoff
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Kick-off: 8pm UK time
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Aston Villa vs Fulham team news
Aston Villa team news
Amadou Onana (ACL) is a long-term absentee, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) and Matteo Ruggeri (thigh) still need a few more weeks.
We expect Emery to go back to the side that started against Manchester City. That means Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof and Pau Torres returning in defence, with Boubacar Kamara and Joao Gomes behind Johan Manzambi. Jackson should replace 17-year-old Brian Madjo up front, with John McGinn and Alysson out wide and Alejandro Garnacho most likely on the bench.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis has started only the two EFL Cup games since arriving from Southampton, but Emery was full of praise on Friday: “Very good. Taylor is a fantastic guy, very professional. He knows how he has to progress with us, understands everything and practises.”
Fulham team news
Ryan Sessegnon serves the last game of his three-match suspension, so Antonee Robinson stays at left-back.
David Affengruber and Emile Smith Rowe missed the midweek defeat by Crystal Palace with unspecified issues, but both should be available. We expect Affengruber to go straight back into the defence next to Calvin Bassey, the captain being tracked by several clubs ahead of his contract running down.
Gonzalo Garcia has not scored in his last seven starts, but we think Arbeloa will keep faith with his fellow Spaniard ahead of Rodrigo Muniz, with Joshua King, Alex Iwobi and Oscar Bobb behind him.
Aston Villa vs Fulham pre-match tactical analysis
Villa’s slow start is firmly behind them. They have taken 10 points from their last four league games, and the calendar suits them: Emery’s team have won only two of their last 12 league games in August and September, compared with eight of their last 10 in October and November.
A much-changed side lost 3-0 at Bournemouth on Wednesday, ending a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and missing out on a quarter-final for the seventh season in a row. Emery rotated heavily with Fulham, Barcelona and Manchester United coming up, and he has made the order of priorities plain.
He said: “If we are thinking after the match against Fulham, then we are making a mistake and we are completely wrong. We are prioritising the Premier League, and this is the message.”
Asked whether Villa were still outsiders for the top six, he added: “It depends. We showed in the past years we were. But this year, until now, no.”
Fulham had “three or four clear chances” against Palace in Arbeloa’s view, and only failed to score for the second time this season. Emery’s record is the real hurdle, though: he has won eight of his nine Premier League meetings with them. Fulham have won just one of their last seven against Villa, although that was the most recent, 1-0 at home in April through Sessegnon.
Aston Villa vs Fulham key players
Nicolas Jackson
Four goals in his last four league appearances and seven in 11 matches since joining Villa. He did the damage against City, and we expect him straight back in after Madjo led the line at Bournemouth.
Oscar Bobb
He scored the superb winner 10 minutes from time at Coventry last weekend, and he is the player most likely to give Fulham something to hold on to at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Fulham predicted lineups
Aston Villa predicted lineup: Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Gomes; Alysson, Manzambi, McGinn; Jackson
Fulham predicted lineup: Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia
Aston Villa vs Fulham prediction
The cup defeat looks a blip for a Villa side going from strength to strength, while Arbeloa’s Fulham are still very much a work in progress. We expect Jackson and co to be too much for them. Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Fulham.