West Ham Utd vs Aston Villa Premier League predictions and stats: The Julen Lopetegui era begins
It’s a battle of the claret and blues to start the 2024/25 Premier League when West Ham United host Aston Villa on the opening weekend.
Villa’s quest for back-to-back top four finishes begins with an away tie they don’t have the best luck in. Can they pick up their first Premier League away win against the Hammers in 13 years?
Three predictions for West Ham vs Aston Villa
West Ham 2-2 Aston Villa (19/2 with Betano)
Aston Villa haven’t won away to West Ham since 2011, a run of nine games without victory including two draws on their most recent visits to the London Stadium. Villa have failed to win any of their last four Premier League games (D2 L2), their longest run without a win under Unai Emery.
Ollie Watkins First Goalscorer (6/1 with Betano)
In 2023/24, Ollie Watkins was directly involved in more goals away from home than any other Premier League player (16), finding the back of the net 1o times away from Villa Park. He was also one of just two players to reach double figures for away goals alongside Erling Haaland (12).
Watkins is Aston Villa’s highest ever Premier League goalscorer in games played in London, with 13 goals in the capital so far. He has 59 overall in the competition, behind only Gabriel Abgonlahor (74) and Dwight Yorke (60) for the Villans.
Aston Villa 13+ shots (9/10 with Betano)
Unai Emery’s side averaged 13.6 shots per game in the Premier League last term, having 13+ shots in both of their matches with the Hammers last term (28 in total).
Betano sign-up: Get £30 in bonuses when you bet £10
Betano are offering new customers the chance to get £30 in free bets to use on football.
To claim this offer, follow these steps:
- Create your account by clicking this link or the image below.
- Opt in to this promotion via the Offers tab or sign up page.
- Deposit and bet £10 or more at odds of evens (2.0) or higher within the first three days of registration.
- Get 5x £5 free bets and a £5 slot bonus on bet settlement.
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on any EPL match (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. No cash-out. Get 5x£5 Free Bets for set markets (odds 1/1+) and a £5 Slots Bonus on Age of the Gods: God of Storms, 30x wagering, max redeemable £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. No cash-out. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
How to watch West Ham vs Aston Villa live
West Ham vs Aston Villa will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League on Saturday 17th August at 5:30pm (UK time).
How both teams go into West Ham vs Aston Villa
We’re entering a new era at the London Stadium, with David Moyes’ contract not being renewed. At the helm now is Julen Lopetegui, who shocked fans just under a year ago with his departure from Wolves on the eve of the 2023/24 campaign. It was a slightly disappointing season for West Ham last year as they finished ninth, nine points off the European places.
The Hammers won as many games as they lost and had a goal difference of -14, the worst in the top half of the Premier League. In fact, only five teams had a worse goal difference than West Ham last season. So now it’s on Lopetegui to lift West Ham back up into contention for European football.
On the other side of this game are a team hoping to build on their impressive 2023/24 campaign. Unai Emery had an excellent first full season in charge of Aston Villa, leading them to the Champions League. The Villans finished fourth, two points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, and were well deserving of their finish.
Now the question is whether Emery and Aston Villa can juggle the Premier League and Champions League. We saw last season that Newcastle United were unable to do so, bowing out of the Champions League at the group stage and finishing seventh in the Premier League.
Villa are winless in their last nine Premier League away games against West Ham (D5 L4), since a 2-1 victory at Upton Park in April 2011 and will be hoping to finally end that streak in 2024/25 and get their season off to a winning start.
West Ham host Aston Villa at the London Stadium on Saturday 17th August at 5:30pm.
West Ham team news
Although there is a new man at the helm, we may not see too much of a change in West Ham’s system, with Lopetegui favouring a 4-2-3-1. However, what we will see is a lot of changes in personel. Maximilian Kilman played under Lopetegui at Wolves and is now a West Ham man, so you’d expect him to come straight into the defence — especially with the Hammers paying £40m for the centre-back. He should partner fellow new signing Jean-Clare Todibo with Aaron Wan-Bissaka coming in at a right-back.
New striker Niclas Fullkrug should lead the line, with Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Crysencio Summerville filling in just behind him. We could also see another new arrival start in the form of midfielder Guido Rodriguez.
Edson Alvarez is a major doubt.
Aston Villa team news
Aston Villa have also seen a big change to their squad this summer already, with Douglas Luiz sold to Juventus and Moussa Diaby heading for pastures new. But they have also brought in midfielders Andre Onana and Ross Barkley, who previously played for the Villans on loan in 2020/21 and forwards Jaden Philogene, who re-joins the club from Hull City and Samuel Iling-Junior. Ian Maatsen has also joined and may make the left-back spot his own.
Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara both continue their recoveries from injury, but Emi Buendia should return to the squad after missing nearly the whole of the 2023/24 campaign. Back-up goalkeeper Robin Olsen is a fitness doubt.
West Ham vs Aston Villa head-to-head
West Ham are winless in their last three games against Aston Villa, including a 4-1 defeat at Villa Park last season. However, before that defeat the Hammers went unbeaten in 10 matches against Villa, including six wins.
| West Ham vs Aston Villa H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 17/03/24 | West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa | London Stadium, London | |||||
| 22/10/23 | Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham | Villa Park, Birmingham | |||||
| 12/03/23 | West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa | London Stadium, London | |||||
| 28/08/22 | Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham | Villa Park, Birmingham | |||||
| 13/03/22 | West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa | London Stadium, London | |||||
| 31/10/21 | Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham | Villa Park, Birmingham | |||||
