Aston Villa vs Fulham Prediction: Sess on song again

Five consecutive wins appeared to have Aston Villa well on course for a top-five finish that would secure Uefa Champions League football next season. However, the Villans suffered a setback at the Etihad Stadium last time out in the competition, conceding in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to league rivals Manchester City, who won 2-1 and moved four points ahead of Unai Emery's seventh-placed side.

On Saturday (12:30, TNT Sports 1), Villa return to Villa Park, where they host Fulham, who can move to within three points of them with a victory in Birmingham. Below are my Aston Villa vs Fulham predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Marcus Rashford missed Aston Villa's 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals last Saturday, and the England international is set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

Otherwise, the Villans appear to be at full strength, with on-loan Chelsea defender Axel Disasi available again after being cup-tied last weekend.

Football Odds

Changes are expected to be made to Unai Emery's starting XI, with Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Jacob Ramsey leading the race for promotions from the bench.

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz, who has missed his side's last two games with an Achilles injury, could miss the rest of the season, while on-loan Arsenal attacker Reiss Nelson (hamstring) hasn't featured since December 5 and remains sidelined for the Cottagers.

However, Antonee Robinson should be available again after missing last Saturday's 2-1 win at Southampton.

Sasa Lukic and Adama Traore were brought on at the start of the second half at St. Mary's, and both could get the nod to line up from the off at Villa Park this weekend.

Aston Villa vs Fulham Odds

Villa have won their last three Premier League games at Villa Park and have lost just once in the competition there this season - 2-0 to Arsenal back in August. Understandably, the 2024/25 Champions League quarter-finalists have been installed as 4/5 favourites on Saturday, implying a 55.6% probability of success, while Fulham are 7/2, or a 22.2% chance, to win a competitive match at Villa Park for the first time since April 2014.

The draw is priced at 3/1, both teams to score at 4/6, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/11.

Ollie Watkins, set to lead the line again in the absence of Rashford, is 6/5 favourite in the anytime goalscorer market, and 4/1 to strike first on Saturday, with Raul Jimenez first up in the anytime (23/10) and first (7/1) markets for the Cottagers.

Both Teams to Score & Total Goals Over/Under +2.5 - Yes & Over 2.5 @ 1/1

Fulham are top of the Premier League BTTS table, with both teams finding the net in 74% (35/34) of their games this season, while Aston Villa are third, as 68% (23/34) of their matches have ended with at least one goal on either side.

Villa are also joint-second in the over 2.5 goals table, with 71% (24/34) of their league outings going over 2.5 goals. Fulham, on the other hand, drop down from their BTTS perch, as 59% (20/34) of their contests have produced at least three goals.

The conditions are there, though, for a few goals on Saturday, and this selection gains further credence when looking back at recent results between the two teams.

The last three meetings between Villa and Fulham have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams score, with the latest, a 3-1 victory for Emery's side at Craven Cottage in October, producing four.

The Cottagers haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five league games, while the Villans' only one in their last four came against already-relegated Southampton, so both teams to score and over 2.5 goals looks like the best bet at Villa Park this weekend.

Anytime Goalscorer - Ryan Sessegnon (FUL) @ 5/1

I think Ryan Sessegnon is worth backing to carry on his fine recent goalscoring form this weekend, given the odds on offer.

The 24-year-old was a peripheral figure for Fulham in the first half of the season, making just two substitute appearances in the Premier League before the turn of the year.

However, he's featured in 10 of the Cottagers' last 11 league games, scoring four goals despite making just five starts.

His latest strike came last Saturday at St. Mary's Stadium as he struck the winner in injury time against Southampton, and he should earn a fifth consecutive start at Villa Park, where he provides tremendous value in the anytime goalscorer market, particularly if he is pushed into a more attacking role after covering for Robinson at left-back last weekend.

Offers

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