Premier League's basement boys braced for fierce finale

Aston Villa

A wretched run of nine matches without a win has left third-bottom Villa one point from safety.

Dubious preseason investment in several underwhelming signings has left Villa relying on young Manchester United-linked captain Jack Grealish to inspire their survival bid.

But Dean Smith's side has lost three of its five games since the restart and still has to face United and Arsenal before a potential final-day shoot-out with West Ham. The Birmingham outfit could count itself unfortunate not to have secured what would have been a point at Anfield in Sunday's 2-0 defeat against champion Liverpool.

That obdurate display offered hope that Villa could still avoid an immediate return to the Championship, but Smith knows they will have to be more ruthless to achieve that aim.

"I don't want to be a valiant loser, we're scrapping for points," Smith said. "To out-shoot Liverpool at home at Anfield in terms of efforts on goal is excellent, but we need to take our opportunities."