Aston Villa thrashes West Ham

Aston Villa climbed to within two points of the Premier League after their 11th consecutive home Premier League win in a 4-1 victory against West Ham on Sunday.

The emergency manager Emery has transformed Villa in just over a year and qualified for the Champions League for the first time this season.

Luiz is just one of several players who are performing at a different level under the Spaniard and continued his scoring streak at Villa Park while Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey were also on target as Unai Emery’s men recorded amazing wins.

Luiz is the first Brazilian Villa player to score in six consecutive home Premier League games when his strike from the edge of the box had too much power for Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal in 30 minutes.

Douglas Luiz doubled his side’s advantage by converting a penalty spot early in the second period after Edson Alvarez tripped Ezri Konsa to ensure a comfortable win.

Jarrod Bowen scored just five minutes later when his shot spun off Pau Torres into the far corner for his 100th career goal to give West Ham hope but the Hammers could not stop the ambitious Aston Villa.

However, the Hammers’ fightback was quashed out by the in-form Watkins who blasted in his eighth goal of the season from a narrow angle.

The Jamaican international Bailey was left on the bench as Nicolo Zaniolo started despite being the subject of an investigation from Italian prosecutors over a betting scandal. But Bailey utilized his 15 minutes on the field as he came off the bench to cut inside Nayef Aguerd with a step over and fired into the top corner.

This has made Villa climb up to fifth in the table but within striking distance of leaders Manchester City.