Patrick Rowe, football journalist at Sky Sports, believes that Aston Villa manager Unai Emery may shake things up for Wednesday night’s meeting with Brentford.
After a flying start to the season, the Villans are now winless in eight games in all competitions – a run of form that may prompt Emery to tweak his system for the Bees’ visit to Villa Park.
Aston Villa are 12th in the Premier League, but only four points behind fourth-placed Brighton. What have you made of their season so far?
It was always going to be a challenge for Unai Emery and his side this season.
The Conference League gave the squad a taste of the workload involved in European football last season – but the standards needed to compete in the Champions League have taken their toll.
Villa have not looked the same since that historic win against Bayern Munich on 2 October.
Injuries have played their part, but the games continue to come thick and fast.
The January transfer window might be needed at this rate!
Do you think Unai Emery is targeting another top-four finish this term?
I think this is the priority, though Emery has played this target down by claiming top seven is the aim instead.
Qualifying for the Champions League was obviously a historic feat, but the club do not want this to be a one-time fairytale affair.
Having players like Emiliano Martínez, Pau Torres and Ollie Watkins in the squad means competing amongst Europe’s elite is imperative to keeping them at the club.
You’ve touched on it already, but Aston Villa are playing in the Champions League for the first time since 1982/83 this season and won their first three matches without conceding a goal. How much is everyone connected with the club enjoying the journey?
The defensive record in the Champions League has been quite the headache!
It is just the one goal conceded so far, but it is quite the opposite in the Premier League.
The journey has been fantastic and the games at Villa Park have been quite the spectacle – but the current run of form is worrying and needs addressing before the busy Christmas period.
Which player should Brentford fans keep an eye on at Villa Park?
Morgan Rogers. The statistics do not reflect his full impact on the game.
Like most of the team, his levels have dropped in recent weeks, but he is a fantastic watch.
He is tall and strong, but carries the ball well and glides past players with an ease that is rarely seen from a player of his size.
If he can just become a touch more clinical in front of goal, he is destined for the top.
What should Brentford expect from Aston Villa in terms of shape and style?
Emery rarely strays away from his preferred 4-4-2 formation, but it is not as basic as it sounds!
There will usually be a creative player just behind Watkins up front; Rogers, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey have all been utilised in the role.
However, given the recent run of form, do not be surprised to see a few tweaks to the system.
I personally would like to see Tielemans play there with a midfield duo of Boubacar Kamara - who is arguably Villa’s best player when fit - and Amadou Onana, if he is back from injury.
What's your score prediction?
Brentford are not the best away from home this season, so I think Villa will squeeze a much-needed 1-0 win.