Chris Sutton has issued his prediction for Saturday’s Premier League fixture between Aston Villa and Burnley, whilst also backing Ollie Watkins to give the Clarets trouble.
The Villa Park natives welcome Vincent Kompany’s team to Birmingham for their final fixture of 2023. Aston Villa will end this year inside the top four of the Premier League table if they avoid a defeat. Burnley are already certain to see in the New Year inside the relegation zone.
Both clubs will also want to end the year on a high after losing their previous game. Watkins could not help Aston Villa to avoid a 3-2 defeat at Manchester United. While Liverpool dealt Burnley a 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor, with Kompany’s team the worst at home in the top-flight.
Aston Villa are the Premier League’s best team on home soil
No Premier League side has earnt fewer points on home soil so far this season than Burnley with three. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are the best in the division with 25 of a potential 27. Only relegation-threatened Sheffield United have denied Unai Emery’s team the win yet.
Kompany is so far relying on Burnley’s away form to keep the Lancashire side within reach of safety. They have scored eight points on the road with two wins and two draws in nine trips. But Sutton has predicted Aston Villa will hand Burnley their sixth defeat with their ninth win.
Chris Sutton predicts Ollie Watkins will inspire a 2-0 win vs Burnley
Celtic hero Sutton tips Watkins to return to form on Saturday and inspire a 2-0 win as Aston Villa host Burnley. The 28-year-old has failed to score across his past two appearances after firing nine in 12 games. He also recorded four assists throughout the striker’s prolific streak.
Watkins boasts eight assists and nine goals through 19 Premier League games in total so far this season. So, Sutton expects Burnley will fail to keep him ‘quiet’ as Watkins leads Emery’s Aston Villa to the win. He does not feel the Clarets’ away record will be enough on Saturday.
Sutton told BBC Sport: “Aston Villa have slipped up in their past two games, against Sheffield United and Manchester United, picking up one point when I thought they would take all six.
“Villa manager Unai Emery said after their defeat at Old Trafford that he is still happy to have 39 points. And he was quite right to emphasise the fact they have over-achieved. But they are surely disappointed not to have pushed on in the past week.
“Still, they should bounce back here. Burnley have picked up more points away than at home. But I don’t see them keeping Ollie Watkins quiet.”
The post ‘I don’t see’: Chris Sutton expects Burnley to fail to keep Aston Villa 28-year-old ‘quiet’ appeared first on HITC.
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