Another run of three straight losses for Villa – the second such run under Steven Gerrard – has deflated some of the bounciness ushered in since Dean Smith’s sacking in November. They host Spurs at a time when Antonio Conte’s side appear to be finding peak form as they chase a top-four spot – three wins on the spin, 21 goals in six league matches, and scorers popping up from all over the pitch. Tottenham won the reverse fixture in October after Matt Targett unluckily deflected the ball into his own net, and – curiously – “own goals” is Spurs’ joint-third-top scorer in the Premier League this season, with six in total. Stuart Goodwin
Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue Villa Park
Last season Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 2
Referee Graham Scott
This season G10 Y32 0 3.2 cards/game
Odds H 9-4 A 13-10 D 13-5
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Olsen, Youngs, Chambers, Hause, Nakamba, Buendía, Carney Chukwuemeka, Bailey, Iroegbunam, Sanson, O’Reilly, Traoré
Doubtful Nakamba (match fitness), Hause (abdominal), Digne (illness)
Injured None
Suspended None
Discipline Y67 R2
Form WWWLLL
Leading scorer Watkins 8
TOTTENHAM
Subs from Gollini, Sánchez, Rodon, Winks, White, Bowden, Bergwijn, Moura, Scarlett, Devine
Doubtful Reguilón (knee)
Injured Skipp (pelvis, unknown), Tanganga (knee, 1 Jul), Sessegnon (thigh, 16 Apr)
Suspended None
Discipline Y51 R1
Form WWLWWW
Leading scorer Son 14
