3 d. ago Buendía sets up Aston Villa rout as Martínez saves frustrate Bournemouth

After Emiliano Martínez’s mistake allowed Mohamed Salah to open the scoring at Anfield last weekend, there was a statistic doing the rounds that only three players had made more errors leading to Premier League goals since the Argentinian signed for Aston Villa five years ago. The life of a goalkeeper and all that.But Martínez tends to thrive when in the line of fire and here he pulled off two brilliant saves, including one to deny Antoine Semenyo from the penalty spot, before the substitutes Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen sealed a 4-0 win that lifts Villa above Bournemouth in the table. For Andoni Iraola’s side, their first notable off-day of an otherwise fine start. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago UK police arrest 11 around soccer match between Aston Villa and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv

British police have arrested 11 people around a Europa League soccer match in Birmingham between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv

Events

5 d. ago Protests outside match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv lead to 11 arrests

Teenage boy among those arrested outside groundMP Ayoub Khan speaks at pro-Palestine demonstrationEleven people were arrested during protests outside Villa Park on Thursday after Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned on safety grounds from attending the Europa League match, sparking intense controversy.A large Pro-Palestine demonstration took place in the shadow of Aston Villa’s stadium, with protesters calling for the match to be cancelled and for Israeli teams to be banned from multinational competitions. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv police issue major update after night of protests

Missiles were allegedly thrown at West Midlands Police officers near Villa Park last night where Aston Villa played Maccabi Tel Aviv, a match to which away supporters were banned

Events

5 d. ago Stop and search powers remain in place after protests before Aston Villa match

Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel were placed on the ground beside Trinity Road amid pro-Palestinian chants.

Events

5 d. ago Fraught, tense and visceral: there’s never been a football match quite like Maccabi’s visit to Aston Villa | Barney Ronay

Undeniably strange and redolent of wider horrors at one remove, this was a groaning platter of geopolitics with a tiny little sprig of sport dusted across the topYou could almost, almost have played it for laughs. If it wasn’t so bleak, or so profoundly unsettling. But then, this is Birmingham, so there does have to be some gallows humour buried in there.Either way an hour before kick-off on the streets outside Villa Park it became clear that the 700 police officers present were being asked to keep apart three distinct, and equally energetic factions: pro-Palestine, pro-Israeli and pro YouTubers. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Maatsen and Malen help Aston Villa avoid more controversy in win over Maccabi Tel Aviv

The prevailing sense was of relief that, after all the breathless conjecture and discussion that had dominated the nation’s news cycle at times, an event with no real winners passed safely. At least Aston Villa did what was expected of them, ultimately coming through with comfort against a respectable Maccabi Tel Aviv team who had chances to make a sleepy affair more interesting. They needed the points to put their Europa League campaign back on track, settling for a rasping Ian Maatsen finish and, in the second half, a Donyell Malen penalty.This tie had loomed glaringly when it was drawn out in August. Back then there was a sizeable clamour for Israeli clubs to be barred from European competition, a stance pressed home by several placards held by protesters outside the stadium. That has largely quietened since a ceasefire was agreed in the Gaza war but the noise around Maccabi’s visit was ramped up when visiting fans were banned from attending the game on public safety grounds. In ...

Politics

5 d. ago UK police arrest 6 ahead of soccer match between Aston Villa and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv

British police said six people were arrested Thursday evening ahead of Aston Villa’s Europa League soccer match with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham, a match that has seen fans from the Israeli team banned

Events

6 d. ago How the Gaza war overshadowed the beautiful game as Tel Aviv fans banned from Aston Villa match

Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. supporters have been banned from a ground in Birmingham in a highly divisive move branded antisemitic. But Israeli football also has racism problems that need addressing, campaigners tell James C. Reynolds

Events

6 d. ago Masked Muslim protesters post 'Zionists not welcome' signs around Birmingham ahead of Aston Villa match against Israeli team as 700 police gear up and schools close early

Gangs of masked Muslim protesters have posted 'Zionists not welcome' signs around Birmingham just hours before Aston Villa 's clash against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Events

6 d. ago Schools close early amid crowd trouble fears at Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match

The tensions have led to a decision to ban Israeli fans and keep the away stands empty for the duration of the game

Events

9 d. ago Man City 3 Bournemouth 1: Erling Haaland scores twice and unveils brilliant new celebration as City go second

ERLING HAALAND resumed his scoring spree by firing Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Bournemouth - and unveiled his new robot celebration at the Etihad. Aston Villa snapped his 12-match netting streak for club and country last time out in the Premier League, but he returned to form with a first-half brace against the...

Politics

1 week ago Salah and Gravenberch secure welcome win for Liverpool against Aston Villa

Crisis club Liverpool find themselves level on points with second-placed Bournemouth after picking up their first Premier League points since 20 September. Their recovery appears simple in that context and, thanks in no small part to the Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, it was the balm that Arne Slot wished for after the worst run of his Anfield reign. He knows it must be only a starting point.Liverpool were deserving victors in the league for the first time since beating Everton in the Merseyside derby, as Villa proved the perfect guests. A terrible mistake by Martínez presented Mohamed Salah with his 250th Liverpool goal before more poor Villa defending enabled Ryan Gravenberch to double the hosts’ advantage early in the second half. Slot’s name reverberated from the Kop as Liverpool banished the anxiety of six defeats in the previous seven games. It was also sung in the 24th minute with the game goalless and delicately balanced. The support was there for Liverpool’s head...

Politics

1 week ago Liverpool respond to Arsenal message as Arne Slot undroppable emerges

LIVERPOOL 2-0 ASTON VILLA: Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah were on target as Arne Slot's side showed signs of Premier League champions

Politics

1 week ago Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League latest score, match stream and goal updates

Reds looking to end winless run in league

Sport

1 week ago Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest score and goal updates

Reds looking to end winless run in league

Sport

1 week ago Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Reds looking to end winless run in league

Politics

1 week ago New decision on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending Aston Villa match as statement released

The multi agency Villa Safety Advisory Group, chaired by Birmingham City Council, met behind closed doors and has again advised that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should be banned from the game

Politics

2 w. ago Jadon Sancho suffers nightmare embarrassment despite Man United loanee beating Man City

Jadon Sancho was substituted on during Aston Villa's match against Manchester City on Sunday but the winger did not have the impact he'd have hoped for

Politics

2 w. ago Man City's title credentials under scrutiny as Erling Haaland's goal run ends

ASTON VILLA 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY: Pep Guardiola's side are now six points off the title pace after Matty Cash's first-half strike was enough to secure a big win for the Villans

Politics