The game is afoot.

There are just two players to have had 10 or more shots on target without scoring a Premier League goal so far this term, and they both play for Brighton - Solly March (11) and Danny Welbeck (10).

Can we expect an early goal today?

Both Brighton and Aston Villa have scored a league-high six goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season.

Brighton's only victory in the past 14 competitive meetings was by 2-1 away in the Premier League two years ago (D5, L8).

The Seagulls are winless in seven league and cup home fixtures against Aston Villa since a 1-0 top-flight triumph at Goldstone Ground in December 1980.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

Villa have underperformed, looking at it, they’ve scored 14 goals this season in 14 games. You would think with a manager who has been as successful as Unai Emery, they will be able to change that. Here is the challenge for him.

The win against United last week was a great win. It was a very significant result, great way to start winning at home, get your own fans on side and now here’s another test so let’s see how they do.

Image source, .

There were some rave reviews of Aston Villa when they beat Manchester United last weekend in Unai Emery's first game as manager, and they will look to maintain that momentum on the south coast.

But Brighton are in a really good place at the moment after back-to-back league wins, and they fully deserve to be in the top six based on their recent performances.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery has challenged his players to be more competitive away from Villa Park, but overall said he has seen more positives than negatives since his arrival.

Both of Emery's games in charge have come against Manchester United, with a 3-1 win at home in the Premier League followed by a 4-2 defeat at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup.

When asked what he has taken from his Aston Villa over those two games, Emery said: "First they are very good players with the mentality to work.

"They are so attentive every day, tactically and in not a lot of days working because we arrive one week ago. They are very open to listen to everything we are giving them about our idea.

"In those two matches there were a lot of things more positive than negative and the next step is clear for us. The challenge is to be competitive away and the consequence will give us three points.

"Tonight we were thinking 'wow we are in good spirits in good performances' but we can lose everything we did in 75 minutes in 15 - and that is the last consequence we have to work on."

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

Steven Gerrard left his role because maybe Aston Villa believed he could not achieve the potential of this squad. I think Villa fans and players will believe they could be doing better so somebody coming in who could maybe raise them up towards their ceiling, perhaps they should be performing better.

I think obviously the transfer window coming should make a difference but you’re not going to bring in 11 new players so this is what Emery has to work with and they believe he’ll make it better and he believes it himself so I get it.

Aston Villa have won two of their past three league games, as many as they had in their previous 15.

They are vying to record consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since May.

Brighton are seventh.

A point would guarantee their highest league position on Christmas Day ever.

They were eighth on 25 December 1981, their current record.

Both of Unai Emery's previous Premier League meetings against Brighton ended in a 1-1 draw.

Yesterday there were a couple of England World Cup injury scares - most notably to Leicester midfielder James Maddison - although he has been confirmed as fit for Qatar.

Today the only three England players involved are Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.

Shaw will be the biggest concern - because he's the only proper left-back in the Three Lions squad.

No players in the early game.

Villa are winless in all seven Premier League away fixtures this season, managing only two points and three goals.

Their only triumph in 12 away league matches was 3-1 at Burnley in May (D3, L8).

Unai Emery won only eight of his 25 Premier League away games as Arsenal manager.

Brighton have earned back-to-back wins under Roberto de Zerbi following a run of two draws and three defeats in his first five games.

They can equal the club Premier League record of three consecutive victories, set in October 2018 under Chris Hughton.

Their solitary defeat in the past 10 home league games came against Spurs last month.

Interesting that Roberto de Zerbi and Unai Emery both say they have players off sick today.

Mikel Arteta said a few of his Arsenal players were ill yesterday too, and replaced Granit Xhaka early on.

Is there something going round?

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi on the confidence in his side, speaking to Sky Sports: "[We have] good confidence but the wins have gone. Today there is another difficult game and we have to play well - and we want to win."

On Mitoma, Webster and Sarmiento's absence: "They are ill. They have a temperature and they can't play."

On balancing the World Cup with league action: "This a problem for all players, all coaches, all teams. I think we have to be focused only on the game, only on this game, and only on our club. From tomorrow they can think about their national team."

Image source, Getty Images

Roberto de Zerbi has urged Brighton fans to recreate the atmosphere they produced against Chelsea to help the Seagulls finish on a high before the World Cup.

Victory over Aston Villa would secure three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since October 2018.

On the role supporters have played recently, the Italian said: "Very, very important.

"I would like my team always to start the game at 150%. For only one thing, not because the opponent can soften, no. If you are playing at home and you start the first 15 minutes strong, your fans can play with you and you play with 12 instead of 11.

"This happened when I was in other clubs. For example Foggia are in the third division in Italy, but the fans are very hard and the strategy was clear for us, to play with them. Here it was the same, with Chelsea for example. The beginning of the game was important to play with our fans."

De Zerbi is happy with what he has seen from his players so far and is not in a hurry to alter things.

He said: "I have some ideas about the next period after the World Cup, but I have to understand how many players can come back before the league starts again.

"Step by step, I am not in a rush. I think I already gave the players some new ideas and they are able to play with new ideas. I don’t want to change too many things."

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports on following up last week's Manchester United win: "It was the first step but today we have a big challenge. Away [in the League Cup], we didn't achieve our good performance as a team and in my first match away in the Premier League we played against Manchester United. We were being consistent but we want to do the same today and improve more and get a good result."

On Ollie Watkins' absence: "Ollie and Leon Bailey were sick yesterday. This morning Bailey was getting better and he's in the squad. Ollie is impossible because he continued to be sick."

On the desire to improve Villa's away form: "It's a big challenge and that's the first motivation we have today. I want to win but I want to help the players to achieve the first win away this season."