Aston Villa FC
Manager: Unai Emery · Villa Park · Founded 1872 · Claret / Sky Blue
Survivor safety
64
Solid pick
Unbeaten at home
33%
3 games
Unbeaten away
67%
3 games
The manager and the style of play
Manager
Unai Emery
In charge since November 2022
Emery's Villa defend in a disciplined mid-block with a famously high line designed to spring the offside trap, then build patiently before attacking quickly down the flanks.
Villa won the 2025/26 Europa League, ending a 30-year wait for a major trophy, and carry that momentum into the new season.
Source: bbc.com · reviewed 5 September 2026
Are Aston Villa FC a safe survivor pick?
Across the last 3 Premier League seasons — 2025/26 (4th), 2024/25 (6th), 2023/24 (4th) — Aston Villa FC avoided defeat in 73% of their league games. That is the baseline a survivor player should start from before looking at this week's fixture.
This season they have played 6, winning 1, drawing 2 and losing 3, with 6 scored and 11 conceded. At home they are 0-1-2; away from home 1-1-1.
Unusually, they have travelled better — unbeaten in 67% away versus 33% at home — so don't discount them on the road.
Recent form reads L-D-L-W-D (oldest first), meaning they have come through 60% of their last 5 matches without losing.
League record by season
| Season | League | Finish | P | W | D | L | Pts | Not lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Premier League | 4th | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 65 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | Premier League | 6th | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 66 | 74% |
| 2023/24 | Premier League | 4th | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 68 | 74% |
Recent results
- Aston Villa FC 2–2 Brentford FCGW6
- Tottenham Hotspur FC 2–3 Aston Villa FCGW5
- Aston Villa FC 1–2 Nottingham Forest FCGW4
- Hull City AFC 0–0 Aston Villa FCGW3
- Aston Villa FC 0–1 Arsenal FCGW2
Next fixtures
- Away vs Newcastle United FCGW7 ·
- Home vs Manchester City FCGW8 ·
- Home vs Fulham FCGW9 ·
- Away vs Manchester United FCGW10 ·
- Home vs Sunderland AFCGW11 ·
Current squad
Goalkeeper
- Marco BizotNetherlands
- Zion SuzukiJapan
Defence
- Victor Nilsson-LindelöfSweden
- Aaron Wan-BissakaCongo DR
- Tyrone MingsEngland
- Matty CashPoland
- Pau TorresSpain
- Taylor Harwood-BellisEngland
- Ian MaatsenNetherlands
- Matteo RuggeriItaly
- Modou Keba CisseSenegal
Midfield
- Leon GoretzkaGermany
- Ross BarkleyEngland
- Boubacar KamaraFrance
- Emiliano BuendíaArgentina
- John McGinnScotland
- Amadou OnanaBelgium
- João GomesBrazil
- Lamare BogardeNetherlands
- Johan ManzambiSwitzerland
Offence
- Tammy AbrahamEngland
- Nicolas JacksonSenegal
- Alejandro GarnachoArgentina
- AlyssonBrazil
- Ibrahim M'BayeSenegal
- Brian MadjoLuxembourg
- George HemmingsEngland
Ratings update after every result. See this week's safest picks, the full fixture list , browse all team guides or read the last man standing rules. Picks lock Sat 17 Oct, 12:30.