New West Ham United manager Graham Potter oversees his first match in charge of the club on Friday as the Irons travel to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.
The inevitable was finally formalised this week as Julen Lopetegui was dismissed following a hugely disappointing start to the campaign. The Spaniard was swiftly replaced by former Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Potter, who has been out of work since April 2023.
West Ham have confirmed that Potter will be in charge of Friday's trip to the Midlands in the FA Cup and it will prove a tough assignment on his Hammers debut. The capital side have conceded nine in their last two outings and lost the Premier League meeting with Villa in Lopetegui's first competitive fixture back in August.
Villa's form has not been flawless in recent weeks but they triumphed in their 2025 bow against struggling Leicester City. Leon Bailey's winner ended a two-game winless run and lifted Unai Emery's side to eighth in the Premier League table.
Here is 90min's guide to an all-Premier League affair in the FA Cup third round.
What time does Aston Villa vs West Ham kick-off?
- Location: Birmingham, England
- Stadium: Villa Park
- Date: Friday 10 January
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- Referee: Tim Robinson
Aston Villa vs West Ham H2H Record (Last Five Games)
- Aston Villa: 2 wins
- West Ham: 1 win
- Draws: 2
- Last meeting: West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa (17 August 2024) - Premier League
Current form (all competitions)
Aston Villa | West Ham |
|---|---|
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester - 04/01/25 | Man City 4-1 West Ham - 04/01/25 |
Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton - 30/12/24 | West Ham 0-5 Liverpool - 29/12/24 |
Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa - 26/12/24 | Southampton 0-1 West Ham - 26/12/24 |
Aston Villa 2-1 Man City - 21/12/24 | West Ham 1-1 Brighton - 21/12/24 |
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa - 14/12/24 | Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham - 16/12/24 |
How to watch Aston Villa vs West Ham on TV - UK and US
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | ITV 1, ITVX, STV, STV Player, UTV |
United States | ESPN+, ESPN App |
Canada | Sportsnet World Now, Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet World, Sportsnet Now Plus |
Aston Villa team news
Villa will be without the services of John McGinn on Friday evening, with the influential midfielder currently absent due to a hamstring injury sustained against Leicester last time out.
The Villans find themselves a tad short at centre-back, too. Pau Torres is missing with a foot injury picked up in the final match of last year, while Diego Carlos, who has been linked with a January exit, is doubtful to feature.
Jhon Duran serves the final game of his three-match ban for a red card picked up in the recent defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League. In better news, Morgan Rogers returns from his one-game suspension.
The FA Cup third round usually prompts sweeping changes for Premier League sides and Villa may utilise this opportunity to afford some players rest. However, they can't afford to make too many alterations against top-flight opposition.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs West Ham
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs West Ham (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins.
West Ham team news
Potter will choose his first West Ham starting XI on Friday and is unlikely to make too many changes to the familiar setup. The Englishman does have several injuries that limit his selection, though.
Jarrod Bowen is the most notable absentee for the Hammers, with the energetic winger fracturing his foot during the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool. He joins fellow forward Michail Antonio in the treatment room, with the Jamaica international recovering from the broken leg he sustained in a car accident.
Lukasz Fabianski has missed recent matches with a head injury and will be absent again on Friday, meaning Alphonse Areola will start between the sticks. Emerson was absent for the defeat to Manchester City last time out and remains a doubt for Friday, while Jean-Clair Todibo was withdrawn due to injury at the Etihad Stadium and could be unavailable.
West Ham predicted lineup vs Aston Villa
West Ham predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Wan-Bissaka; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudus, Paqueta, Summerville; Fullkrug.
Aston Villa vs West Ham score prediction
Potter will have had an incredibly limited amount of interaction with his new team prior to Friday's game and significant improvements are unlikely to come at Villa Park. It may prove an educational encounter for the 49-year-old, even in likely defeat.
Villa have a strong home record this season and are unlikely to field an entirely changed XI for West Ham's visit. In the event that Emery selects a strong lineup, the Midlands side should have little trouble navigating Friday's affair and securing their spot in the fourth round.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham
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