Aston Villa host Wolves at Villa Park tonight in the West Midlands derby.
Both teams have new Spanish managers, with Unai Emery and Julen Lopetegui looking to take their clubs up the Premier League table.
Emery's side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at the weekend and are looking good
Villa look reborn under Emery's leadership and have beaten Manchester United and Tottenham in his first four league games.
But Wolves have been much improved under ex-Real Madrid boss Lopetegui, and the two former Europa League winners are set to face off for the sixth time in their first West Midlands derby.
The Old Gold won their last away game against Everton on Boxing Day and will be out to spoil the party under the lights at Villa Park.
Aston Villa v Wolves: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League game at Villa Park is set to take place on Wednesday, January 4.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have exclusive commentary with Adrian Durham serving as your host and commentary coming from Sam Matterface and former England defender Danny Mills.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Lopetegui is working to drag Wolves up the table
Aston Villa v Wolves: Team news
Argentina hero Emiliano Martinez should return in goal for the hosts after being rested against Spurs.
Jacob Ramsey is also back in training and might make the bench, but Diego Carlos remains out.
John McGinn and Douglas Luiz are also doubts after being withdrawn at the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Old Gold have no new injury concerns after their defeat to Manchester United but will be without Chiquinho, Sasa Kalajdzic, Pedro Neto, Boubacar Traore and Jonny Otto.
But Matheus Cunha could make his debut after being registered.
Aston Villa v Wolves: What has been said?
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery on potential incomings: "We are speaking and we are working on the possibility to add some players.
"We are speaking as well with some players who can leave. Really, I want to improve everything we can in the squad but I'm so happy with the players because I think we have very good players.
"But, of course, we can improve and we can add in some position because I think we are not plentiful in the positions in the squad that I want.
"The next four weeks, we are going to try to add some players but, really, only if they improve our team."
Martinez should return to the starting XI after his World Cup heroics
Aston Villa v Wolves: Match facts
- Aston Villa haven't won any of their last six Premier League home games against Wolves (D3 L3), alternating between a draw and a defeat each time (lost 3-2 last season).
- Wolves did the league double over Aston Villa last season, last winning three in a row against them between April 1957 and December 1960 (a run of 7).
- Wolves won 1-0 at Man Utd in their first Premier League game of 2022. They last won their opening league match in consecutive years in 2015 and 2016, while they last did so as a top-flight side between 1979 and 1981 (three in a row).
- Aston Villa manager Unai Emery suffered his first home defeat with the club in their 3-1 reverse against Liverpool on Boxing Day, only his third ever home Premier League defeat in 28 games, including his spell at Arsenal (W18 D7). Emery hasn't lost consecutive home league games since April 2021 with Villarreal in LaLiga.
- Wolves won 2-1 against Everton in their last away Premier League game, as many wins as they'd had in their previous 14 on the road (W1 D3 L10). They are looking for consecutive away wins for the first time since winning four in a row between December 2021 and February 2022.
- Since the start of last season, Aston Villa have lost all seven of their Premier League games against teams whose names begin with W, losing twice to Watford, twice to Wolves and three times to West Ham.
- Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui and Aston Villa's Unai Emery have already faced once this season in LaLiga, with Villarreal drawing 1-1 with Sevilla in September. It's the first time ever that two managers have faced in both the Premier League and LaLiga in the same season.
- Ollie Watkins has been involved in at least one goal in his last three home Premier League appearances (2 goals, 1 assist), including scoring but ending on the losing side in a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in Villa's final home game of 2022. Watkins has now lost in five home Premier League games he's scored in for Aston Villa, with only Christian Benteke losing more games he's scored in at Villa Park in the Premier League (6).
- Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has never beaten Wolves in the Premier League in three attempts (D2 L1), only facing Recreativo and Liverpool more often in his top-flight managerial career without winning (4).
- Aston Villa striker Danny Ings has been involved in four goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Wolves (three goals, one assist). In all competitions, he has netted in his last three games against them (three goals).
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