Aston Villa vs Fulham takes place at Villa Park on Saturday, 31 October 2026, with kick-off at 20:00 GMT (22:00 in Lesotho). Unai Emery’s side enter Premier League Matchweek 9 ninth with 11 points, three ahead of Fulham in 15th. Both clubs have won their last two league games but are looking to respond to Carabao Cup exits in midweek.
Villa’s 2–1 victory over leaders Manchester City has sharpened their recent recovery, while Fulham arrive after successive 1–0 league wins. The contest is also a test of whether Villa can respond to their 1–0 defeat at Craven Cottage in April.
Aston Villa vs Fulham date, kick-off time and venue
The Aston Villa vs Fulham kick-off time is 20:00 GMT on Saturday, 31 October, equivalent to 22:00 in Lesotho and 23:00 in Kenya. The Aston Villa vs Fulham venue is Villa Park in Birmingham. The fixture moved from Sunday, 1 November, because Villa are scheduled to play Barcelona in the Champions League the following Tuesday.
For competition context and upcoming matches, visit the SportPesa Global Premier League fixtures and results hub.
Premier League standings: three points separate Villa and Fulham
The Aston Villa vs Fulham Premier League standings picture shows Villa in ninth on 11 points from eight matches, with nine goals scored and 12 conceded. Fulham are 15th with eight points, eight scored and ten conceded. A Fulham win would bring the clubs level on points; a Villa win would extend the gap to six.
These figures underline how close the sides are in the table despite different routes to their recent points. Villa have scored only one more league goal, while Fulham have conceded two fewer.
Recent form: Villa recover, Fulham find defensive stability
Aston Villa beat Manchester City but exit the cup
Aston Villa recent Premier League form has improved with back-to-back wins over Newcastle United and Manchester City. Nicolas Jackson scored twice in the 2–1 victory against City, although a 3–0 defeat at Bournemouth on Wednesday ended Villa’s EFL Cup campaign.
Fulham beat Hull and Coventry by identical margins
Fulham recent Premier League results include consecutive 1–0 victories over Hull City and Coventry City, with Oscar Bobb scoring the winner away to Coventry. The London club then lost 1–0 to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. The two league clean sheets give Álvaro Arbeloa’s side an encouraging platform heading into a difficult away fixture.
Aston Villa vs Fulham head-to-head: recent meetings
The Aston Villa vs Fulham head-to-head record favours the Birmingham club in recent seasons, though the latest result went against them. In the Fulham vs Aston Villa last match in April 2026, Fulham won 1–0 at Craven Cottage. Before that, Villa won 3–1 at home in September 2025 and 1–0 at Villa Park in May 2025.
Villa have lost only one of their previous 18 home Premier League meetings with Fulham, recording 12 wins and five draws. Fulham’s April success nevertheless demonstrates that the visitors can disrupt Villa even after a long run of difficult results against them.
Aston Villa vs Fulham team news, injuries and lineups
Aston Villa absences and selection decisions
The latest Aston Villa vs Fulham team news centres on recovery from the midweek cup game and the availability of players who missed recent fixtures. Aston Villa injury updates have identified Amadou Onana, Matteo Ruggeri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as unavailable in pre-match reporting. Emery also has decisions to make in attack after rotating his squad for the cup tie.
Fulham suspension and team selection
The main Fulham injury and suspension news includes Ryan Sessegnon’s suspension, while David Affengruber’s availability was under assessment following his absence from the cup defeat. Fulham will have to decide whether to retain the defensive framework that delivered consecutive league clean sheets.
At the time of this preview, the Aston Villa vs Fulham confirmed lineups had not been released. Published Aston Villa vs Fulham predicted lineups are possibilities, not official team sheets; supporters should wait for announcements before treating any player as a confirmed starter.
Key players: Nicolas Jackson and Josh King
The story around Nicolas Jackson goals for Aston Villa has grown after his double against Manchester City. His movement behind defenders and ability to finish limited chances could be important if Fulham keep the game compact.
At the other end, the Josh King Fulham attacking threat comes from his movement into the box and work between lines. He has scored twice in the league this season, while Alex Iwobi and Oscar Bobb offer additional options for progressing the ball.
Three tactical battles to watch at Villa Park
Villa’s midfield versus Fulham’s central block
Boubacar Kamara and João Gomes can help Villa circulate possession, but Fulham will look to prevent easy passes into advanced areas. Winning second balls may be as important as controlling the overall possession percentage.
Jackson’s runs against Fulham’s centre-backs
Villa’s most direct route to goal may come from finding Jackson early. Fulham’s defenders need to balance holding their line with tracking runs behind, especially when John McGinn carries the ball into attacking positions.
Fulham’s transitions and the opening goal
Fulham have just won successive league games without conceding. If they score first, Villa may be forced to take more risks; if Villa lead, the visitors will need to produce more than the narrow margins that decided their previous two wins.
Match statistics and how to follow live updates
Pre-match Aston Villa vs Fulham match statistics show Villa on 11 points with a 9–12 goal record and Fulham on eight with an 8–10 record after eight games. Neither total alone guarantees the outcome, but each helps explain why finishing chances and protecting central spaces matter.
Follow the Aston Villa vs Fulham live score and official team announcements through SportPesa Score and club match channels. After full-time, look for Aston Villa vs Fulham highlights and the confirmed result rather than treating previews or projected lineups as live reporting.
For wider coverage, explore SportPesa Global football news and our Aston Villa Champions League coverage.
Aston Villa vs Fulham FAQs
What time is Aston Villa vs Fulham?
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT on Saturday, 31 October 2026: 22:00 in Lesotho and 23:00 in Kenya.
Where is Aston Villa vs Fulham being played?
The match takes place at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Who won the last Aston Villa vs Fulham meeting?
Fulham won 1–0 at Craven Cottage on 25 April 2026.
Are the starting lineups confirmed?
Not in this pre-match preview. Official lineups should be checked against club announcements close to kick-off.
What is Fulham’s form before the match?
Fulham have won their previous two Premier League matches 1–0, against Hull City and Coventry City.
Conclusion
Aston Villa vs Fulham offers two recovering sides a chance to turn recent league progress into sustained momentum. Villa have home advantage and a stronger recent head-to-head record, but Fulham’s back-to-back clean sheets add an intriguing defensive challenge. Check SportPesa Score for confirmed lineups, the live result and updated Premier League standings.
ALSO READ: Aston Villa vs Manchester City: team news, H2H and match context.
