Aston Villa welcome Nottingham Forest to Villa Park on Saturday looking to open their Premier League account for the season.
It is Villa’s first home league fixture since a goalless draw with Hull City, and comes three days after a morale-boosting Champions League win at Club Brugge. Emery’s side sit 18th in the table without a goal to their name in the league, and a repeat of last season’s attacking struggles would put them on course to match an unwanted club record.
Aston Villa team news
Leon Goretzka, Johan Manzambi and Amadou Onana are all sidelined with knee injuries, and Brian Madjo is out with an ankle problem. Goretzka is not expected back until after the next international break, while Emery said this week that Manzambi “will need some more days” and was unlikely to be ready in time. Joao Gomes is suspended for the third and final match of his three-game ban, leaving Villa short of options in the centre of midfield. Matty Cash missed the Club Brugge win with muscle fatigue and remains a doubt for the weekend.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis is available having sat out the Champions League tie through ineligibility, and the deadline-day signing is expected to push Victor Lindelof for a start at centre-back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to continue at right-back if Cash is not passed fit, with Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen also retaining their places in defence. Emery is expected to stick with George Hemmings and John McGinn in wide areas, meaning £47m signing Ibrahim Mbaye may again have to settle for a place among the substitutes.
Aston Villa predicted lineup
Aston Villa possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Barkley; McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings; Jackson
When will the match kick off?
The Premier League match kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday, 12 September 2026.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest?
The match is not being broadcast live on television in the UK, with the fixture falling inside the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout.
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