Aston Villa host West Ham United on Sunday with both teams eager to get their season started after a sloppy first few weeks.
LIVE STREAM ASTON VILLA v WEST HAM
Steven Gerrard has been a bit testy with his Villa team as they lost at Crystal Palace last time out and despite their narrow home win against Everton in week two, they have lost two of their first three games of the season. season and a serious injury in The summer signing of Diego Carlos has also impacted Villa. Villa needs a good run of results to generate positive vibes.
West Ham have lost their first three Premier League games without scoring a goal as they sit bottom of the table. However, David Moyes’ side advanced to the Europa Conference League group stage after coming through the playoffs and can now fully focus on starting their Premier League campaign. With the Hammers also set to spend big in the final days of the transfer window, it seems too early to say whether or not the East London club will step back this season.
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Here’s everything you need to know for Aston Villa vs West Ham.
How to watch Aston Villa vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kickoff: 9 a.m. ET, Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Broadcast via NBCSports.com
key stories
Gerrard is not shy about sharing his opinion and is not happy with what he has seen from his Aston Villa side so far this season. After spending heavily in recent transfer windows, this is a team that should be pushing to finish in the top 10, and probably more. Instead, defensive mistakes continue to cost Villa dearly and that is making Gerrard angry. They had a big win at Bolton in the League Cup in midweek, so his confidence was able to flow.
For the Hammers, they need a win quickly to put to rest any fears that this season will become more of a problem than it probably is. Moyes’ team has been sensational over the past two seasons and there is no concern that they will be caught up in a relegation battle. That said, if they can’t get out of this early-season malaise, then their hopes of qualifying for Europe for a third successive campaign could soon be a pipe dream.
Fit players to watch
Ollie Watkins is looking great early in the season and has scored in his last two PL outings as his partnership with Danny Ings is developing nicely as the duo mesh well together. Boubacar Kamara also looks like a very good addition in central midfield.
West Ham’s Declan Rice continues to dominate in midfield, while the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio are working as hard as ever but have had no luck in the final third so far this season.
Aston Villa team news, injuries, line-up options
Ludwig Augustinsson is back from a knee injury, giving Gerrard additional defensive options. Due to Diego Carlos’s injury, it is likely that he will start with Mings and Konsa at central defense again.
West Ham team news, injuries, lineup options
Nayef Aguerd, West Ham’s star defensive signing of the summer, is out for a few months after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season. Craig Dawson is closing in on a comeback after his thigh injury, while Vladimir Coufal is fit after a clash of heads against Brighton last time out.
