As good a time as any: Newcastle United v Aston Villa match preview and team news

Villa haven't won at Newcastle for more than 20 years. It's a run that defies logic.

After Liverpool were beaten on Saturday, two of the top three in the Premier League have another opportunity to pull away. Manchester City had already claimed their three points.

Aston Villa can’t really come off badly from Sunday’s late game. If Arsenal win, Manchester United lose. If United win, Arsenal lose. Villa are in the middle of those two and a draw would make things very interesting.

That is, it would make things very interesting if Villa can overcome the weight of recent history and win their own game in the earlier kick-offs. Villa play away at Newcastle United on Sunday and the truth is anything less than a victory would mean Arsenal winning their game would do them a favour where it really counts.

Maybe that’s what we should be hoping for regardless. Unai Emery has been clear enough about his target for this season and the gaps that matter are the ones between Villa and fifth, and probably Villa and sixth.