Aston Villa are seeking their first win of the Premier League season this evening as they travel to Hull City at the MKM Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 5:30pm BST. Unai Emery's side have endured a difficult start, suffering back-to-back defeats, while their hosts have made a perfect start with two victories.
Villa's campaign began with a heavy 4-0 loss at Brighton, followed by a 1-0 home defeat to champions Arsenal in their last outing. Hull City, meanwhile, have impressed under their manager, beating Manchester United 2-0 and Coventry City 1-0 last weekend, leaving them with a full six points from their opening two fixtures.
First meeting since 2019
This evening's match marks the first meeting between Hull and Villa in any competition since a 2-2 draw in the Championship in January 2019. The Tigers have historically struggled against Villa, winning just one of their last 16 encounters with the Midlands club.
Unai Emery has never faced Hull City before in the Premier League. The Spanish coach has beaten 27 of the 28 teams he has encountered in the competition, with Ipswich the only side he has failed to overcome. Additionally, Emery has never lost a match with Villa against a promoted side, a record that will give his team confidence heading into the game.
Team news and expectations
BirminghamLive's Villa correspondent, John Townley, is providing live updates from Hull. Team news is expected around 4:15pm, with fans keen to see whether players like Ibrahim Mbaye, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Leon Goretzka will be involved. Johan Manzambi and Brian Madjo will not feature, with the latter expected to return after the international break.
Pre-match betting odds from bet365 list Hull at 16/5, the draw at 13/5, and Aston Villa as favourites at 17/20. Villa will be eager to secure their first three points of the season and kickstart their campaign under Emery, while Hull will look to continue their surprising start and extend their winning run.
