Aston Villa travel to Brighton in the Premier League as Unai Emery’s side look to open up a 10-point lead over Tottenham in the race for the top-four.
Villa suffered a setback in midweek as they were beaten 4-2 by Olympiacos in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final, but they remain in a great position to qualify for the Champions League with three games left to play.
It could even be decided today if Villa beat Brighton and Tottenham lose to Liverpool at Anfield.
Brighton will be out for revenge after losing 6-1 to Villa earlier this season. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have suffered a slump in form and are winless in six.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League updates
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Brighton host Champions League chasing Aston Villa in Premier League
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Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, Igor, Dunk, Gross, Joao Pedro, Gilmour, Webster, Buonanotte, Welbeck, Adingra
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Aston Villa: Olsen, Diego Carlos, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Rogers, Diaby, Watkins
Brighton & Hove Albion FC 0 – 0 Aston Villa FC
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:28
Rogers is back on his feet, but he looks to be heading straight down the tunnel. Surely that’s the end of his game. The action resumes, and Aston Villa are playing with only 10 men – Rogers’ replacement Cash is not ready yet.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:27
Substitution Morgan Elliot Rogers Matthew Stuart Cash
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:25
Off the ball, Rogers hits down on the turf, causing the game to be brought to a halt. He covers his face and awaits the medics’ arrival – it seems this could be some kind of muscular injury. It doesn’t look good.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:24
Adingra gets the better of Konsa again, then attempts an early cross into the box. However, he slips and the ball shoots straight towards Olsen, who comes off his line to claim it confidently.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:22
Having won their last five games against Brighton, Aston Villa are looking to register six straight Premier League victories over an opponent for the first time since between 2005 and 2010 – local rivals Birmingham City were their victims during that spell.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:20
Brighton have already managed two shots on target today – one more than during the entirety of last week’s game against Bournemouth – and they are showing signs that they can test the Premier League’s fourth-placed team.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:18
Webster spots some space on the right flank and clips a long ball over the top, but Gross is caught just offside as he tries to spring Aston Villa’s trap.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:18
Adingra treads on Bailey’s boot in a 50-50 challenge, causing the Villa forward to tumble to the turf. Despite receiving various complaints, the referee decides that it’s not worthy of a yellow card, though.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:15
The corner-kick is swung over by Gross from the left, and Welbeck rises to meet it inside the six-yard box. However, it strikes his back and flies over the crossbar.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:14
Konsa can’t cut out a ball out to the left flank, allowing Adingra to run into space and deliver a cross; Villa ultimately scramble it away for a corner, but Brighton are growing in confidence now.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:11
SAVE! Having done well to steal the ball in midfield, Adingra tricks his way past McGinn and then lets fly with a firm strike at goal from around 20 yards out. Olsen has to dive to his right in order to palm it away to relative safety! That’s superb play from the Ivorian!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:09
After Diaby reaches the ball on the left side of the area, he opens up a shooting angle, but his low shot is sent more or less straight at Verbruggen. It’s been a pleasingly open start so far.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:08
Adingra cuts inside from the left and lines up a shot at goal, but his low strike lacks venom is easily claimed by Villa’s back-up goalkeeper Olsen, who has big boots to fill today.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:07
Digne and Diaby combine on the left, before Rogers almost latches onto the ball in Brighton’s box. The Villa winger topples to the turf under a challenge from Buonanotte, then appeals for a penalty, but both the referee and the VAR are disinterested.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:03
Wearing their traditional claret and blue, Aston Villa kick off, and we are on our way to the Amex!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:00
The players are out on the pitch, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:57
Also making three changes to the starting XI from their last Premier League fixture, Aston Villa are once more without undisputed number one Emi Martinez due to injury. Olsen again deputises for the Argentinian goalkeeper, while Diaby and Diego Carlos replace Cash and Tielemans. Like their hosts, Villa’s absence list is long, with Tielemans now joining others including Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:52
De Zerbi makes three changes to the side that started in Bournemouth last week, as the more experienced trio of Veltman, Webster and Welbeck come in for Offiah, Barco and O’Mahony. Solly March, Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey are among several players consigned to Brighton’s crowded treatment room.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:48
SUBS: Joe Gauci, Matty Cash, Alex Moreno, Calum Chambers, Clement Lenglet, Jhon Duran, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tim Iroegbunam, Omari Kellyman.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:48
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Robin Olsen; Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Leon Bailey, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers; Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:42
SUBS: Jason Steele, Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder, Valentin Barco, Carlos Baleba, Ansu Fati, Odeluga Offiah, Cameron Peupion, Mark O’Mahony.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:42
BRIGHTON (3-4-3): Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Igor, Lewis Dunk; Adam Webster, Facundo Buonanotte, Billy Gilmour, Pascal Gross; Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, Simon Adingra.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:36
Aston Villa could seal Champions League qualification today, should results go their way over the next few hours. Despite fumbling a two-goal lead in last week’s game against Chelsea, Villa hold a seven-point lead over fifth-placed Tottenham – who have one game in hand – so they will be assured of a cherished top-four finish with victory at the Amex if Spurs lose to Liverpool later on. The Villans now return to domestic duty after slipping up in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final: serial Europa League winner Unai Emery oversaw a shock 4-2 defeat to Olympiacos at Villa Park on Thursday.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:36
Since beating Roma en route to Europa League elimination in March, Brighton have claimed just two points from six games in the Premier League, and goals have dramatically dried up. The Seagulls have found the net only twice during that time, with their latest setback a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth last week. Roberto De Zerbi’s side now occupies 13th place in the table, and hopes of returning to European competition are effectively over. They were thumped 6-1 at Villa Park earlier this season – their fifth straight league loss to today’s visitors.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:36
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s Premier League clash between Brighton and Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
1:00 p.m
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
Tags: Brighton Aston Villa LIVE Premier League latest score goal updates
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