West Ham vs Aston Villa Prediction: Fullkrug can make a fast start

West Ham and Aston Villa bring the curtain down on the first Saturday of action in the 2024/25 Premier League season and it could be a game that's worth waiting for as two entertaining outfits go head to head at the London Stadium.

It's the start of a big season for Unai Emery's Villa after last season's fourth-place finish earned them a spot in the Champions League, while West Ham are beginning a new era under Julen Lopetegui after finishing ninth under David Moyes last season. Read on for my West Ham vs Aston Villa prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

New Hammers boss Lopetegui will be without midfielder Edson Alvarez for his first match as the Mexican has a hamstring injury and defender Kurt Zouma is not expected to be involved as he negotiates a move away from the club.

New recruits Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Max Kilman could all be in Lopetegui's first competitive selection.

Villa has several likely absentees with Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Robin Olsen injured and defender Diego Carlos is not expected to feature after having transfer talks.

Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen are summer signings who could start and manager Unai Emery will have to decide whether to risk Ollie Watkins, who has not featured in any pre-season games after joining the squad late following Euro 2024.

West Ham vs Aston Villa Odds

West Ham are 6/4 favourites at home for their season opener, with Aston Villa available at 9/5 and the draw on offer at 13/5.

Over 3.5 goals in the match is priced at 11/8 with under 3.5 at 8/15 and it's 4/9 that both teams score in the game with 13/8 available for at least one side to fail to find the net.

Over 3.5 goals @ 11/8

Aston Villa's first match of last season produced six goals as they went down 5-1 at Newcastle and their 2024-25 opener could also be an entertaining affair as they travel to West Ham.

Brighton vs Luton and Brentford vs Spurs also went over 3.5 goals on the first weekend of last season and Villa's trip to the London Stadium looks a likely candidate to be one of the more entertaining games this weekend.

Villa's shocking start was a poor guide to what they achieved over the rest of the season as they went on to score a healthy two goals per game in the league, while West Ham netted 60 in 38 games themselves but conceded a sloppy 74 in their final season under Moyes.

With both teams set to field new-look defenses who have had little time to get used to each other, the talented forwards on both sides should have early opportunities to remind fans of their ability.

Both teams have scored in eight of the clubs' last nine meetings, while six of Aston Villa’s final eight Premier League games last season saw at least four goals scored.

Villa have lost their first league match for three successive seasons, conceding 10 goals, and there looks to be a good chance that we will see at least four at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Niclas Fullkrug anytime goalscorer @ 15/8

West Ham's Fullkrug is one of the most exciting new arrivals in the Premier League this summer and the German could open his account in England at the first opportunity.

The 31-year-old scored twice for his nation at Euro 2024, netting against Scotland and Switzerland to continue the fine form he had shown for Borussia Dortmund.

Fullkrug netted 12 Bundesliga goals for BVB last season after leaving Werder Bremen and is the kind of old-school striker who should relish the hustle and bustle of the English top-flight.

Offers

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We are Top Price on either side to win in the SIX televised Premier League fixtures! (West Ham vs Aston Villa - available from 09:00 - 17:30).

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