Premier League | Matchweek 16 | Saturday, December 13, 2025
West Ham United host Aston Villa at the London Stadium on Saturday lunchtime in a clash with significant implications at both ends of the European qualification picture. Villa sit third on 32 points, just four behind the leaders, while the Hammers occupy eighth with 23 points and harbor ambitions of closing the five-point gap to the top six.
Table Context
Aston Villa’s plus-12 goal difference (30 scored, 18 conceded) reflects a side firing on all cylinders under Unai Emery. West Ham’s plus-2 (24 scored, 22 conceded) tells the story of a more balanced outfit capable of competing with anyone on their day.
Head-to-Head History
The London Stadium has been Villa’s graveyard in recent years. West Ham are unbeaten in their last nine home Premier League meetings against Villa, a run stretching back to 2011. In the last six encounters at this venue, the record reads two West Ham wins and four draws with zero Villa victories. Overall across the last 10 meetings, West Ham lead 5-3-2 with three wins by two or more goals.
West Ham Form
In their last six league matches overall, West Ham have recorded W3-D1-L2, averaging 1.67 goals scored and 1.50 conceded per game. The run includes an impressive 2-0 victory over Newcastle alongside a setback against Leicester.
Their last three home matches show W2-D1-L0, scoring 2.00 goals and conceding just 0.67 per game. Victories over Newcastle and Arsenal have transformed the London Stadium atmosphere into a genuine fortress.
Aston Villa Form
Villa’s last six overall reads an excellent W4-D1-L1, averaging 2.17 goals scored and 1.00 conceded per game. Their only defeat came against Liverpool, while last week’s 3-1 win over Southampton demonstrated their attacking quality.
Away form shows more vulnerability. Their last three on the road produced W1-D1-L1 with 1.67 goals scored but 2.00 conceded per game, including a heavy 4-1 defeat at Tottenham in November. Villa have, however, scored in every away match this season.
Tactical Outlook
This fixture pits contrasting philosophies against each other. West Ham average 44% possession and thrive on counter-attacks, while Villa control games at 54% and generate 14.2 shots per game compared to West Ham’s 12.4.
The tactical hinge centers on set-pieces. West Ham lead the Premier League with nine goals from dead-ball situations, while Villa have conceded five from set-pieces this season. Timing matters too: West Ham have scored eight goals in the opening 15 minutes (league high), while Ollie Watkins has netted four of his last six after the 75th minute.
Team News
West Ham lose Mohammed Kudus to a two-match suspension, a significant blow to their creativity. Niclas Füllkrug (Achilles) remains sidelined, while Edson Alvarez (hamstring) and Alphonse Areola (hip) are doubts. Jarrod Bowen carries the attacking burden.
Villa are without Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia (both knee). Amadou Onana (foot), Jacob Ramsey (groin), and Lucas Digne (illness) face late fitness tests. Onana’s potential absence would force a midfield reshuffle.
Both sides are expected to deploy 4-2-3-1 systems.
Numbers to Watch
- 9: West Ham’s unbeaten home Premier League run against Villa
- 9: West Ham’s league-leading set-piece goals
- 8: West Ham goals scored in the opening 15 minutes this season
Where to Watch
Kickoff: 12:30 PM GMT / 7:30 PM Hanoi
UK: TNT Sports 1 | US: USA Network, NBC Sports App | Canada: FuboTV
