As Aston Villa prepare to host Fulham in the Premier League this Sunday, all eyes are on Unai Emery’s lineup decisions and the club’s high-profile summer signings. With the pressure mounting after a winless start in the league, Villa fans are eager to see if the arrival of Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho can inject the much-needed spark into a squad desperate for momentum.
Villa’s 2025-26 season has been anything but smooth sailing. Despite a narrow 1-0 victory over Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday, the Villans remain winless in their first five Premier League fixtures. That solitary European triumph offered a glimmer of hope, but persistent problems in both attack and defense have left Emery searching for answers. The manager’s future at Villa Park has come under scrutiny, with supporters and pundits alike calling for bold changes to reverse the club’s fortunes.
One such change appears imminent. Morgan Rogers, who has struggled mightily this season, is expected to be dropped from the starting eleven for the Fulham clash. Rogers’ performance against Bologna was particularly concerning—he completed just 10 of 24 passes (a mere 42% accuracy), failed to register a successful dribble, and won only 5 of 17 duels. Villa fans even resorted to sarcastic cheers when Rogers managed to complete a pass, highlighting the frustration with his form. Emery’s patience seems to have run out, and the time for loyalty has given way to a more ruthless approach.
Enter Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old midfielder, signed on loan from Liverpool with a £35 million obligation to buy, has quickly impressed since arriving on deadline day. Elliott notched Villa’s first competitive goal of the season in the Carabao Cup against Brentford—a crucial strike given the team’s early scoring woes. His technical prowess and creativity have drawn rave reviews, none more so than from former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves. Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of Villa’s Europa League fixture, Hargreaves declared, “I think Harvey Elliott can eventually grow into a player who can be as good as Martin Odegaard. Technically, he’s fantastic, he hasn’t had the opportunities at Liverpool obviously because they had so many players, but I think centrally he is a fabulous player.”
The praise isn’t just hot air. Elliott’s pedigree is undeniable. He made 149 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 15 goals and assisting 20, though most of his minutes came off the bench. During his tenure at Anfield, Elliott collected seven major trophies, including two Premier League titles, and was part of the squad that lifted the league trophy last season. Yet, with Liverpool’s star-studded midfield, regular starts proved elusive. Seeking more playing time and a chance to cement his place as a Premier League regular, Elliott’s move to Villa Park represents both a new challenge and a golden opportunity.
“When I joined Liverpool in 2019 it was a dream come true for me and my family,” Elliott reflected in a heartfelt statement upon his departure. “As a young child, I traveled the world supporting the team as a fan and words will never be able to explain the feeling I had when I pulled on that famous red shirt for the first time as a player. Over the course of the last six years I’ve experienced so much and grown from a young 16-year-old boy into a man during my time at the club. Growing up, I could never have imagined that I’d go on to play 150 games for my boyhood team, winning seven major trophies and culminating in being part of the squad to have won the Premier League last season with such a special group. Thank you to everybody at the club for welcoming me from the very first day I arrived, and for looking after me ever since.”
For Villa, Elliott’s arrival, alongside that of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, has been labeled a "masterstroke" by many observers. Both deals were orchestrated by Monchi before his departure as sporting director, with Roberto Olabe now stepping in to fill the role. Elliott’s loan includes a binding purchase clause, while Sancho joins on a season-long arrangement. The hope is that these two technically gifted attackers can revive a faltering offense and provide the creative spark Villa have sorely lacked.
Hargreaves is bullish on both signings. “Unai is the master at getting the best out of players who have maybe struggled elsewhere. That was a masterstroke late in the window, to get two really good technical players to help out,” he noted. While Sancho’s career has seen its share of ups and downs, his raw talent is not in question. If Emery can tap into that potential, Villa could have one of the most exciting attacking duos in the league.
As for the rest of the lineup, Emery is expected to make several changes for the Fulham game. Ollie Watkins, who missed a penalty against Bologna but remains Villa’s primary striker, is set to lead the line once more as Emery aims to play him into form. Donyell Malen could shift to the right flank, and Jadon Sancho might make his full Premier League debut for the Villans. In midfield, John McGinn—who scored the decisive goal in the Europa League—will likely partner Boubacar Kamara, while Tyrone Mings may return to shore up the defense. Emi Martinez, absent from the Bologna match due to a minor issue, is expected to reclaim his spot between the posts.
Villa’s struggles this season have not been for lack of effort, but rather a combination of poor form, injuries, and an unsettled squad. The return of key players like Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana in the coming weeks could further bolster Emery’s options, though both are expected to be eased back into action. The manager’s willingness to make tough decisions—such as sidelining Rogers in favor of Elliott—signals a new sense of urgency at Villa Park.
For Elliott, the stage is set. Having shone for England’s Under-21s with European Championship victories in 2023 and 2025, he now has the platform to prove he can be a top-tier Premier League regular and perhaps even break into the senior England squad. Villa’s thin roster and their ambitions in both domestic and European competitions mean Elliott should have ample opportunities to showcase his talents. If he lives up to the hype, comparisons to the likes of Martin Odegaard may not be so far-fetched after all.
As Sunday’s fixture against Fulham approaches, Aston Villa fans are left wondering: will this be the turning point? With Emery shaking up his squad and new signings eager to make their mark, the atmosphere at Villa Park promises to be electric. One thing’s for certain—change is in the air, and Villa’s season may just be about to take a dramatic twist.
