Who’s looking like title contenders and/or favorites?
Almost at the halfway mark of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal and Manchester City are looking head and shoulders above the rest though Newcastle is not going away and Manchester United has surged into contention.
The Gunners will have their hands full for the duration of their title challenge, as Erling Haaland continues to take the Premier League by storm with an almost impossible goal-scoring record.
Uneven Tottenham are hanging in the top four battle, while Liverpool is struggling to stay in the Champions League scrap. Chelsea has some work to do while surprising Fulham and Brighton are hanging around on the periphery with fine campaigns.
Who are the candidates for relegation?
Everton, Bournemouth, and Southampton currently occupy the relegation places.
But Leicester, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and Leeds all find themselves within a few points of the bottom three after a topsy-turvy start.
Below you will find the latest Premier League table.
James Ward-Prowse thought he had given Southampton the lead with a deflected effort but it was disallowed after referee Michael Salisbury was asked to go to the VAR monitor as a foul was spotted by Mohamed Elyounoussi on Jacob Ramsey. He then disallowed the goal.
Ollie Watkins then headed home the winner late on from a free kick, as that was checked by VAR and he was just onside to seal a third win in their last four league games.
Unai Emery has won five of his seven Premier League games in charge since replacing Steven Gerrard in November, while Southampton remain bottom of the table but are just two points from safety and the performances have been better which will give them hope.
These are the kind of results which happen when you’re at the bottom of the table. Southampton thought they had gone ahead with a deflected goal in the second half but it was chalked off via VAR for a soft foul. Nathan Jones and his players were furious and that perhaps led to them switching off at a free kick as Aston Villa grabbed all three points. The fine margins have gone against Southampton in recent games and although performances are improving, they are still bottom of the table. Villa showed extra nous and experience and Saints badly need to add experience, and a clinical finisher, in the final days of the January window if they’re going to stay up. They are so close to climbing out of the relegation zone and are heading in the right direction but the nature of this defeat to Villa will sting.
Stars of show
Emiliano Martinez: Made some great stops in the second half to grab the win for Villa.
Douglas Luiz: Snapped into tackles and did the dirty work so well.
Kyle Walker-Peters: Created so many chances and such an attacking threat from wide areas.
Ibrahima Diallo: Won the ball back a lot and never stopped trying to get Saints on the front foot.
Saints have two League Cup semifinals home and away against Newcastle and a home FA Cup fourth round tie against Blackpool before they are next in PL action at Brentford on Saturday, Feb. 4.
Aston Villa host Leicester City on Saturday, Feb. 4.
How to watch Southampton vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET, Saturday TV Channel: Peacock Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
FULL TIME: Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa – That is a tough one for Saints to swallow. Villa edge it and they are flying under Unai Emery.
SAVE! Emiliano Martinez pushes away a great effort from Moussa Djenepo.
Orsic and Djenepo are on late on. Understandably Southampton are going for it.
GOALLL! Ollie Watkins heads home a free kick and Aston Villa lead at Southampton. After a VAR check, he was just onside. Villa 1-0 up. Can Southampton respond late on?
Southampton really unlucky not to be ahead. Seeing the replays again, that is a very harsh call on Elyounoussi.
That is a horrible VAR call. James Ward-Prowse's deflected shot went in but Elyounoussi called for a foul as he clipped Ramsey's heel. Not much in that at all. Such a shame for Southampton. Villa have got away with one there. #SaintsFC 0-0 #AVFC#SOUAVL
SAVE! Emiliano Martinez with a big stop to deny Adam Armstrong after a lovely move down the right from Southampton. James Ward-Prowse with a lovely cross.
More possession for Southampton now but not much going on.
We are off in the second half and Villa have a great chance. Bazunu with a poor clearance but Villa didn’t make the most of it with a tame effort. Saints have been really sloppy in possession.
HALF TIME: Southampton 0-0 Aston Villa – The visitors have had the better chances but Saints are hanging in there. They have decent options on the bench and Nathan Jones will want to see more of an attacking threat from his side in the second half.
The game is back underway after that bizarre stoppage. A good chance for Leon Bailey as the ball comes in but he slips at the crucial moment. Villa looking much better.
A drone is currently flying over the pitch at St Mary's Stadium and the Southampton vs Aston Villa game is paused as the players are taken off the pitch while it is investigated. #SaintsFC 0-0 #AVFC#SOUAVL
SAVE! Gavin Bazunu denies Ramsey with a fine stop after a great Villa counter. Bailey then smashes the rebound over.
No goal! Che Adams somehow can’t bundle the ball home and Kyle Walker-Peters does, but they were both offside and the flag is up. Southampton close to an opener.
Nervy moment for Saints as Gavin Bazunu clatters into Jacob Ramsey in the penalty box and VAR has a look. But no penalty kick. Bazunu just got to the ball first.
Strong start for Saints as they are putting Emiliano Martinez under pressure and pushing high.
KICK OFF! The sun is out on the South Coast and Southampton are going after four wins in a row in all competitions.
Key storylines & in-form players to watch
Saints’ main man is James Ward-Prowse and he is a flourishing in a more advanced role as a No. 10. He has banged in superb free kicks against Fulham and Everton and is leading by example with five goals in his last six games in all competitions. Center back Duje Caleta-Car has been exceptional, while Kyle Walker-Peters is also back to his best and is operating out of position at left back.
Villa’s goals are coming from everywhere as Leon Bailey is looking lethal on the counter and the balance is now right in this side. They look solid enough at the back and already have a clear identity and plan. Emery is getting the best out of this talented squad and Boubacar Kamara has been outstanding in central midfield.
Southampton team news, injuries, lineup
Tino Livramento suffered a setback on his long recovery from a knee injury, while left back Juan Larios remains out. Armel Bella-Kotchap, Theo Walcott and Alex McCarthy are all close to a return. Southampton make one change as Adam Armstrong comes in, while new signings Mislav Orsic and Carlos Alcaraz will be key off the bench.
Diego Carlos remains out, while John McGinn is battling back from a hamstring injury and won’t be available. Ollie Watkins had an ankle issue but has shaken it off. Lucas Digne, Jed Steer and Ludwig Augustinsson remain out, while Matty Cash (recovery from injury) and Leander Dendoncker (suspension over) are back and are on the bench.
Premier League injury news: It’s time to take a look at which players might be unavailable for matchweek 21 of the 2022-23 Premier League season, due to injury.
Prior to every matchweek this season, we’ll update this Premier League injuries page with the latest news and update, so make sure to check back regularly to see how your favorite — or least-favorite — club is getting on.
Players, like Chelsea and France star N’Golo Kante, designated “out for World Cup” will miss the 2022 tournament in Qatar before (hopefully) returning to club football shortly thereafter.
Let’s check out the latest Premier League injury news, below.
Arsenal injuries
OUT: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Reiss Nelson (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Mohamed Elneny (knock)
Leon Bailey and Emiliano Buendia got the goals when Emiliano Martinez wasn’t busy standing on his head, as Aston Villa beat Leeds 2-1 at Villa Park on Friday.
That’s four wins in six Premier League games (4W-1D-1L) since Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard as Aston Villa manager. Aston Villa (25 points – 11th place) now sit level with 10th-place Chelsea as they try to push their way into the top half of the table.
Leeds (17 points – 14th place), meanwhile, remain just two points above the relegation zone, with Leicester (in 13th), Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and West Ham all fitting the same bill. That’s five PL games without a win (0W-2D-3L) for Leeds.
Bailey opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, when Boubacar Kamara went on a long dribble through the center of the field before finding the Jamaican international cutting in from the right wing. Bailey uncorked a curler just inside the far post.
It was all Leeds for the remainder of the first half, which unfortunately for them meant it was Martinez’s time to shine. The recent World Cup Golden Glove winner made a pair of stellar, point-blank saves to deny Jack Harrison on two occasions, first in the 23rd minute and then again in the 45th.
Just after the hour mark, Illan Meslier made the initial save to deny Bailey, but the Buendia followed up with a deft header over the flailing Frenchman to make it 2-0 against the run of play.
Leeds got a goal back from Patrick Bamford (his first of the season) in the 83rd minute, but that’s as close as they would get without another shot on target in the game.
Nearly half (9) of Aston Villa’s goals tally on the season (20) were scored in Emery’s first five games. After scoring multiple goals just once in their first 13 games, Villa put three past Man United on his debut, and two each in ensuing wins over Spurs and Brighton.
Leeds’ season looked like it was set to turn around when they beat Liverpool on Oct. 29 and followed that up with a 4-3 comeback win over Bournemouth, before coming out on the other side of a 4-3 comeback by Tottenham before the 2022 World Cup break. Since returning, a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City was followed a scoreless draw with Newcastle and a back-and-forth 2-2 draw with West Ham. With just one clean sheet in their last 10 games, the unreliable defense leaves Leeds precariously placed just two points above the relegation zone.
Aston Villa team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: John McGinn (hamstring), Leander Dendoncker (suspension), Diego Carlos (achilles) | QUESTIONABLE: Matty Cash (knock), Ludwig Augustinsson (knock)
Aston Villa went a goal down to Wolves early on, but battled back and got a late equalizer from Danny Ings to secure a point at Villa Park on Wednesday.
Daniel Podence opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, when he slalomed past the Aston Villa defense and struck a perfectly placed ball just inside the far post. It was part of an all-around bright start from Wolves, who played quickly and confidently — a far cry from Bruno Lage’s tenure — under new boss Julen Lopetegui.
Aston Villa were hugely improved in the second half, though, and perhaps unlucky to still require the 78th-minute equalizer from Ings, as they amassed 1.52 xG in the second half (0.09 in the first half).
The victory sends Aston Villa (22 points) up one place in the Premier League table, into 11th. Wolves (14 points), meanwhile, move to within a point of safety in 17th place, but Lopetegui’s side still sits 19th behind West Ham (17th) and Everton (18th).
How to watch Aston Villa vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Wednesday TV Channel: Peacock Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Key storylines
Emery has done a superb job to turn things around at Villa so quickly. They are organized defensively, love to spring counter attacks and they already have a clear identity and way of playing. It is quite remarkable he’s been able to do that so quickly.
Wolves look to have a very similar style of play to Villa and they are just lacking the firepower needed in attack. The loan signing of Matheus Cunha from Atletico Madrid should give them extra quality in the final third and defensively they’ve looked solid all season and Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho will always hold things down in midfield. Wolves just need an attacking spark from somewhere.
In-form players to keep an eye on
Ollie Watkins has been excellent for Villa, while Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz have been exceptional in central midfield and John McGinn continues to be the heartbeat of this team.
It seems like Wolves captain Ruben Neves almost scores a screamer in every single game and his compatriot Jose Sa was superb against Manchester United. Wolves need to get Daniel Podence on the ball as much as possible as he’s getting back towards his best.
Aston Villa team news, injuries, lineup options
Villa are without long-term absentees Diego Carlos and Jacob Ramsey, while Emery will likely start the same team which won away at Spurs. However, World Cup winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is likely to come back in and start in goal.
Chiquinho (knee), Pedro Neto (ankle) and Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) remain out, while new striker Matheus Cunha could make his debut after his loan move from Atletico Madrid.
