Aston Villa are again in motion for the ultimate time this season as they journey to Manchester Metropolis in what might be a dramatic finish to the 2021/22 Premier League marketing campaign.
Villa’s earlier outing on Thursday evening noticed them draw 1-1 towards relegation-battling Burnley.
Having given away the penalty which put the guests forward, Emi Buendia then made up for his error by scoring the equaliser for Steven Gerrard’s aspect of their remaining sport at Villa Park this season.
Now that the Villans have a slightly robust problem forward of them this weekend to try to get a outcome towards a Metropolis workforce aiming to safe their fourth league title in 5 years, the Midlands membership will must be at their greatest to have any probability of getting all three factors.
On the chalkboard
One determine in Gerrard’s squad who didn’t begin towards Burnley however we really feel must be within the workforce to tackle Pep Guardiola’s aspect is Philippe Coutinho.
Since arriving within the Midlands from Barcelona in January, initially on mortgage earlier than lately making the switch everlasting, the Brazilian has been an enormous attacking risk for the Villans.
With 18 Premier League appearances beneath his belt for Villa, the 29-year-old has scored 4 objectives and supplied three assists.
To additional spotlight how a lot of an attacking nuisance the previous Liverpool star has been for opponents, he has the best common for pictures per league sport (2.3) of anybody in Villa’s squad.
Ought to Coutinho begin towards Metropolis?
Sure
No
As well as, solely Ollie Watkins (31) and Danny Ings (16) have racked up extra pictures heading in the right direction for Gerrard’s workforce within the Premier League than the Brazil worldwide.
Taking this into consideration, it’s protected to say that Coutinho – who has been dubbed “world-class” by his supervisor – has the flexibility to trigger Metropolis and their defence numerous issues on Sunday.
Having scored 5 objectives in seven earlier appearances towards the Manchester membership, the 29-year-old additionally has the prospect to trigger them nightmares as soon as once more and doubtlessly cease them from lifting the Premier League title.
When it comes to who might drop out of the workforce to make approach for Coutinho this afternoon, Carney Chukwuemeka did not make an impression towards Burnley the opposite evening, so he appears more likely to be the one to make approach for the way more skilled and lethal Brazilian.
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