Luton Town - Aston Villa predictions and free betting tips [02/03/2024]

Today as part of the 27th round of the Premier League, Luton Town will host Aston Villa on their home ground. This last Tuesday, Rob Edwards' team was trounced 2:6 by Manchester City in the ⅛ finals of the FA Cup, while the "lions" dealt with Nottingham Forest at home (4:2) last weekend.

Luton Town

Luton Town is fighting to avoid relegate to the Championship at the end of this season. At the moment, Rob Edwards' team is in a modest 18th place in the Premier League table, with one game in hand and four points adrift of safety. After a successful January, the "hatters" have slowed down in the last three rounds: first, they lost 1:3 to the sinking Sheffield United, then to Manchester United (1:2) and Liverpool (4:1). Last week, Luton Town was thrashed 2:6 by Manchester City in the ⅛ final of the FA Cup, so the team can focus on the homestretch in the league. Erling Haaland scored four times, and Kevin de Bruyne assisted the Norwegian four times - another goal is attributed to Kovacic.

Despite the fact that the hosts have consistently scored in nine straight matches, Luton conceded 19 goals in their last five encounters, including 11 - on their home ground in February. Luton Town will be without key forward Adebayo, Andersen (defender) and Nakamba (midfielder), as well as Jacob Brown (2 goals) - all are out injured. Captain Lockyer, who suffered a heart attack in mid-December, will have to wait a little longer before returning to action. Japanese defender Hashioka (Sint-Truiden), who was recruited in the winter, made his debut for his new team this week. Carlton Morris (7 goals and 4 assists) remains the main spearhead in the "hatters" attack, with the experienced Ross Barkley controlling the midfield.

Aston Villa

Currently, Aston Villa is 4th in the Premier League table and, having one game in hand, has a lead of 5 points from the 5th position. A qualification in the Champions League looks quite achievable, especially given that the Birmingham based club has won 4 of their 7 last league matches. After the home fiasco of 1:2 against Manchester United, the yellow-and-blues claimed points in duels with Fulham (1:2) and Nottingham Forest last weekend (4:2). Musa Niahaté and Morgan Gibbs-White made it on the scoresheet for the "foresters", but Douglas Luiz's double, goals from Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey secured all three points for the "villans". Next Thursday, Unai Emery's proteges will head to visit Ajax in the ⅛ final of the Europa League, while they have been knocked out of all domestic cups.

It's worth noting that Aston Villa has been performing very well in the Premier League away from home: the team has secured 21 points in 13 away matches, scored 21 goals, and conceded 20. However, defenders Mings, Konsa and Diego Carlos, centre-field leader Boubacar Kamara, winger Buendía and forward Dyuran - all won't play for the "lions" due to injuries. Yet, England's national team forward Ollie Watkins (14 goals and 10 assists) is likely to start: he has already netted 24 times in all competitions, and only Mohamed Salah can boast better figures. Flanking him will be Douglas Luiz (9 goals and 4 assists) and Bailey (8 goals and 7 assists), with Moussa Diaby likely to come on in the second half.

Head-to-Head

At the end of October, Aston Villa claimed a convincing 3:1 win over Luton, but since 1989, the "lions" haven't taken all three points from Kenilworth Road.

Match prediction: Luton Town - Aston Villa

The ease with which Manchester City repeatedly broke through Luton's defence suggests major trouble for the hosts on Saturday. Of course, the "hatters" urgently need to start accumulating points and move away from the relegation zone - but the visitors are also striving for a top-four finish. Losing points against an underdog is simply inadmissible for Unai Emery's side, so I expect a victory for the favourites.