Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Back 4/1 Watkins to break deadlock

Premier League football returns this weekend, as Aston Villa host Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The Villans are on a winless run of five games across all competitions and they'll be hoping to get back on track against a Palace side who currently sit in the bottom three. Read on for my Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Jacob Ramsey is set to miss out for the hosts as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Ross Barkley, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are all doubts.

Ezri Konsa picked up a knock on international duty with England and will be assessed ahead of kick-off.

As for Palace, Daichi Kamada will miss out here due to suspension, but Will Hughes is available for selection again after serving a suspension of his own against Fulham before the international break.

Matheus Franca is sidelined until the new year, while Jefferson Lerma could return to the fold after dealing with a thigh injury.

Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton remain doubts for the visitors, while Marc Guehi's availability is also up in the air after picking up a shoulder problem on international duty.

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Odds

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Aston Villa are 3/5 favourites for the game, giving them an implied win probability of 62.5%, while the visitors can be backed at 9/2 and the draw is available at 16/5.

Villa won 3-1 in this fixture last season and a repeat of that scoreline is available at 11/1, while over 2.5 goals has landed in three of the last four meetings between the sides, and is currently priced up at 4/6.

Ollie Watkins leads the anytime goalscorer market at 6/5, followed by Villa teammate Jhon Duran at 11/8, and Jean-Philippe Mateta is shortest-priced for the visitors at 5/2.

Aston Villa to win and both teams to score @ 21/10

Villa will be hoping to get back in the win column here, having lost their last four on the run up to the most recent international break.

Champions League football looks to be taking its toll on Unai Emery’s side who have slipped to ninth in the Premier League table, and they managed to record just two shots on target in their 2-0 defeat to league leaders Liverpool last time out.

However, this contest against Palace represents a brilliant opportunity to get back on track, as the Eagles are currently languishing in the bottom three after a miserable start to the season.

Oliver Glasner's side have tasted victory just once this term - a 1-0 triumph against Spurs last month - and I'm predicting more misery for them on Saturday afternoon.

However, I fancy the Eagles to get on the scoresheet at Villa Park, something they have done on three of their last four visits to the Midlands venue, which includes their 2-1 victory over Villa in the Carabao Cup on October 30.

Ollie Watkins to score first @ 4/1

Watkins has scored six goals for club and country this season and I think the England international can add to his tally this weekend.

The 28-year-old scored in the 3-0 win against Greece during the international break, and the Eagles have kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 away trips, which makes the former Brentford man a decent pick if the goals start to flow on Saturday.

Penalty duties could also fall Watkins' way this weekend, so I'm backing him to break the deadlock here.

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