Aston Villa will look to continue their recent improvement when they host Fulham in the ninth round of the Premier League on Sunday, 31 October 2026.

Villa moved up to ninth in the table after collecting 11 points from their opening eight matches. They have scored nine goals and conceded 12, leaving them with a negative goal difference.

Their latest league result was a notable one. Playing at home, Aston Villa defeated Manchester City 2-1, handing the reigning? No, source doesn't say reigning. "ending City's..." first points of season. Say "inflicting City's first loss of points". The match was Manchester City's first dropped points of the season.

Fulham arrive in 15th place with eight points from their eight league fixtures. The London club have found the net eight times and conceded 10 goals so far.

Marco? No manager source. Don't add. Fulham's most recent match brought a narrow away win, as they beat Coventry 1-0.

Form and head-to-head record

Aston Villa are regarded as the favourites for the fixture by bookmakers' experts. Their recent form also offers encouragement: across their past five matches in all competitions, the home side have recorded four victories and suffered one defeat.

Fulham have won two of their last five games in all competitions. The visitors' league position is below Villa's, although their latest success at Coventry means they will travel to Birmingham after a victory.

The clubs met twice during the previous season, with both sides winning their home fixture. That record leaves the latest meeting finely balanced in terms of the recent head-to-head results, while Aston Villa's current league position and sequence of results make them the expected favourites.

Prediction

Villa's momentum, combined with home advantage, makes them the more likely winners of Sunday's contest. Their 2-1 success against Manchester City was their first victory over City? Source only says took first points, not necessarily first victory. Don't add. "recent win against City" okay.

Prediction: Aston Villa to win the match.