Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra

I see this being an open game. You see teams slice through West Ham at times this season. Both teams will contribute today.

Villa are very 4-4-2 with Jhon Duran up top alongside Ollie Watkins, with Morgan Rogers wide on the left.

Danny Gabbidon
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra

What an opportunity for Jhon Duran today. He's had to come off the bench this season but he has to take this opportunity now.

To the strains of Kill Bill and then Blowing Bubbles we are off, Morgan Rogers taking kick-off on his first Premier League start.

This is West Ham's 42nd and Villa's 43rd game of the season. Let's hope they've got something in the tank.

First Guinness hat spotted in the stands.

*Other Irish stouts are available.

Aston Villa have won each of their last three Premier League away games by an aggregate score of 10-3. They last had a longer winning run on the road in the top-flight between November 2008 and February 2009 (7).

Here come the sides...

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Listen to all of the action for the only Premier League match of the day on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra from 13:55 GMT as Aston Villa look to strengthen their grip on the top four when taking on West Ham.

• Listen to West Ham v Aston Villa here

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Ollie Watkins’ 16 Premier League goals have been worth 13 points to Aston Villa this season, with no player’s strikes being more valuable for their side this term. It’s the most points a Villa player has earned with his goals in a single top-flight campaign since Christian Benteke in 2012-13 (14).

West Ham United

West Ham boss David Moyes: "We scored a few goals in midweek and we want more today. We both played on Thursday night and we understand how difficult that is, it's very hard.

"We didn't do well at Villa Park earlier in the season, they play a high line but they are well drilled and are a really good attacking team as well."

Phillips will be taking his feedback from the bench again this afternoon.

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Kalvin Phillips hasn't had the best start to life at West Ham, giving away a goal with his first touch and being left out of the England squad this week.

But David Moyes is confident of getting the former Leeds man back on song.

"I hope we can crack the code before our time runs out," Moyes said.

"I have been trying to sign him for three years. He wants to listen, he takes the feedback and he wants to get better.

"We need to keep building his confidence up and he needs to keep working harder and hope something someday triggers for him to give him a lift.

"I know that someone will get the benefit because he is a top player. Other people have judged him that way already."

I have no idea why Rene Higuita is at this game, but Rene Higuita is at this game. Superb.

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Aston Villa

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers starting: "We need players who are ready to play, now is their moment. The balance in the starting XI is there, they know how we want to play, they have talent and hopefully they can impress."

There may be no Irish players on display this afternoon but Robbie Keane played for both of these clubs so sit back and enjoy...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

It is possible - though highly unlikely - England could have 11 teams in European competition next season. They would be the usual seven spots, plus an extra Champions League place and the winners of all three European competitions (if they finished outside a European position).

But just by taking a European performance spot, the battle for fifth - and eighth - would have renewed meaning.

It's been another fine season for both these sides. But are they heading for more European nights?

Image source, BBC Sport

Villa certainly look well placed and are gunning for a place in the modern day Champions League for the first time, while West Ham could be back as well.

I say that as it's complicated and we don't know yet whether four or five teams will be in the Champions League next season, and the places qualifying for the Europa League and Conference League depend on who wins the FA Cup, Europa League, Conference League, JPT etc...

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All 12 of West Ham’s Premier League wins this season have been when Lucas Paquetá has been in the starting lineup, with the Hammers failing to win any of their seven games when the Brazilian doesn’t start (D3 L4).

Ings is on the bench today but you never know...

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Danny Ings scored his first Premier League goal of the season in West Ham’s 2-2 with Burnley last time out.

He played 48 Premier League games for Aston Villa, and could become the third player to score a Premier League goal against four different teams he’s previously played for in the competition (Burnley, Liverpool, Southampton) along with Peter Crouch and Nicolas Anelka.