Factfile

Manager: Unai Emery

Nickname: The Villans

Ground: Villa Park

Founded: 1874 (151 years ago)

In their manager’s words...

In his press conference previewing the game, Villa manager Unai Emery said he expected a tough evening against a Palace team who went unbeaten in the four meetings between the two sides last season.

"The challenge with Crystal Palace is even more, because last year we couldn’t beat them, and of course because they are performing fantastic," he told the media.

“They are competing fantastic, the coach is really a very good coach. They have very good players, even they are selling players – Olise two years ago, now recently, Ebere Eze – but they are still competing very well, and still playing in their structure so, so strong.

“They are not winning matches,

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