When were Aston Villa last top of the Premier League? Sheffield omen and Gareth Southgate scored as Unai Emery looks to leapfrog Arsenal

Aston Villa have the chance to go top of the Premier League for the first time this century when they host Sheffield United tonight.

Unai Emery has overseen an incredible turnaround at Villa Park and recent wins over Arsenal and Manchester City have put them in the title race.

The Spaniard was appointed on October 24, 2022, with Villa having won just three of 12 Premier League games that season.

Their dismal form had left them 14th, three points above the relegation zone, with Emery's predecessor Steven Gerrard dismissed.

However, just over a year later, Villa have the chance to go top should they extend their record home run to 16 matches with a win over the Blades, live on talkSPORT.

Emery's men are bidding to be the first crop of Villa players to be top of the table since January 8, 1999, after at least 18 matches played.

Villa playing on Friday, a day before Liverpool take on Arsenal, means the club are guaranteed to be top overnight with a victory.

The last time that happened was 25 years ago when Villa ironically beat Sheffield United's neighbours Wednesday 2-1 to go top.

England manager Gareth Southgate opened the scoring that day before a late winner from Ugo Ehiogu overcame the Owls.

Villa ultimately limped to a sixth-placed finish after racking up just 16 more points in their final 18 league matches as Manchester United ultimately won the title.

While it seems highly unlikely considering their form that Villa would suffer a similar fate this time, Emery has offered a word of warning.

Emery said: «I am focusing with [the players] every match we are facing trying to analyse the three points we are facing. Of course, I spoke when we lost in Newcastle 5-1, when we were losing in Liverpool 3-0, losing in Nottingham Forest