Aston Villa are on the cusp of something special, and Friday's Premier League clash against an out-of-sorts Tottenham Hotspur could be the moment they all but punch their ticket to next season's UEFA Champions League.
Ange Postecoglou's Spurs are winless in their last five Premier League outings and looked particularly lifeless in a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend. With their attention drifting toward the upcoming Europa League final, their domestic form has taken a back seat.
Villa, meanwhile, edged past Bournemouth last time out, with Ollie Watkins grabbing the winner, his strike not only sealing the three points but also confirming his place in the club's history books as their all-time top scorer in the Premier League era.
They have now locked in at least a Europa Conference League berth for next season, as they're guaranteed to finish no lower than seventh. But the ambition doesn't stop there; they're still eyeing back-to-back appearances in the Champions League after reaching the quarter-finals this year.
The team remains in sixth place, level on points with fifth-place Chelsea, who slipped up with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, a result that propelled the Magpies into third. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest missed their chance to climb after settling for a home draw against already-relegated Leicester.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Aston Villa vs. Tottenham live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Premier League match in the Canada:
TV channel: N/A
Live stream: Fubo
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in the Canada. Streaming options are available on Fubo.
Sports fans can enjoy Fubo's 79-channel lineup, unlimited Cloud DVR and more for as little as $19.25/month.
What time does Aston Villa vs. Tottenham kick off?
This Premier League clash takes place at the Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom and kicks off on Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. local time (BST).
Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Atlantic Time | Fri, May 16 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Eastern Time | Fri, May 16 | 2:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | Fri, May 16 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Fri, May 16 | 12:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Fri, May 16 | 11:30 a.m. |
Aston Villa vs. Tottenham predicted lineups, team news
The hosts will have to navigate this vital fixture without the services of playmaker Jacob Ramsey, who saw red last weekend, and midfield engine Youri Tielemans, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Marcus Rashford, too, is a major doubt and unlikely to feature again in the current campaign.
Aston Villa predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen — Kamara, Onana — Rogers, Asensio, McGinn — Watkins.
Injured: Rashford (hamstring), Tielemans (muscle).
Suspended: Ramsey (red card).
Tottenham have injury concerns of their own. Creative lynchpin James Maddison and rising star Lucas Bergvall are unavailable, while Dejan Kulusevski is nursing a knee knock and faces a late fitness test.
Postecoglou is expected to make sweeping changes to preserve his key players for the European final, although fans might see Heung-min Son get a few minutes to sharpen up.
Tottenham predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Spence, Danso, Davies, Gray — Bissouma, Sarr — Odobert, Kulusevski, Tel — Richarlison.
Injured: Scarlett (hernia), Kulusevski (knee, doubt), Maddison (knee), Bergvell (ankle), Dragusin (ACL).
Suspended: None.
Premier League fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Friday, May 16
- Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur (2:30 p.m.)
- Chelsea vs. Manchester United (3:15 p.m.)
Sunday, May 18
- Everton vs. Southampton (7:00 a.m.)
- West Ham United vs. Nottingham Forest (9:15 a.m.)
- Leicester City vs. Ipswich Town (10:00 a.m.)
- Brentford vs. Fulham (10:00 a.m.)
- Arsenal vs. Newcastle United (11:30 a.m.)
Monday, May 19
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Liverpool (3:00 p.m.)
Related Links
- Latest men's soccer news and rumors
- Latest women's soccer news and rumors
- How to bet on Soccer