After five years that saw him spend far more time on the bench than on the field, Eric Lichaj is ready to leave Aston Villa for the next destination in his playing career.
The American fullback will be leaving Villa Park after the Villans declined to re-sign the 24-year old.
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa look to have all but won in their battle against relegation.
The Villans picked up a big road victory that moved them five points clear of the drop zone with two games remaining on Saturday, defeating Norwich City, 2-1, at Carrow Road.
Geoff Cameron and perhaps Brek Shea look to feature in Stoke City's match against Fulham, while Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Jozy Altidore responds to racist chanting that disrupted AZ's KNVB Cup game on Tuesday and more problems for Aston Villa in the Premier League. Read More
Eric Lichaj looks to feature in Aston Villa's FA Cup match against Millwall, while Geoff Cameron and Stoke City face a tough test against Manchester City.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj could not dig Aston Villa out of their hole in an embarrassing loss Wigan Athletic, while Tim Howard's Everton had their unbeaten run snapped by Chelsea.
After two days without soccer games to watch, a soccer fix is on the way in the form of today's Boxing Day clashes in the English Premier League.
Manchester United saw their lead atop the English Premier League reduced to four points after a disappointing draw against Swansea City, and they will need a win against struggling Newcastle United to avoid losing even more ground to a surging Manchester City.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj look to help Aston Villa bounce back from their horrid performance last weekend as they take on Clint Dempsey's Tottenham, while Geoff Cameron's Stoke City play a pivotal match with Liverpool.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City continue their unbeaten run with a draw against Tottenham, while Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa were humbled by Chelsea on Sunday.
Clint Dempsey's Tottenham host Geoff Cameron and Stoke City at White Hart Lane, while Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa look to keep their strong run going against Chelsea.
Eric Lichaj and Brad Guzan helped lead Aston Villa to an inspired victory over Liverpool, while Clint Dempsey's Tottenham got back to winning ways with a victory over Swansea City.
Eric Lichaj and Brad Guzan look to extend Aston Villa's unbeaten run in their game against Liverpool, while it is a battle of Americans when Geoff Cameron's Stoke City take on Tim Howard's Everton.
Eric Lichaj started for Aston Villa with Brad Guzan on the bench in their 4-1 League Cup quarterfinal win over Norwich City on Tuesday. Norwich took the lead in the 19th minute at Carrow Road, but Villa were level two minutes later when Brett Holman scored. Andreas Weimann's goals in the 79th and 85th minute sealed the win for Villa, with Christian Benteke scoring their fourth in stoppage time.
Eric Lichaj is beginning to really make a case for more playing time in the near future.
Lichaj made his third straight start for Aston Villa in their Capital One Cup quarterfinals match against Norwich City on Tuesday, and he delivered the assist on the game-winner in the Villan's 4-1 victory.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa have climbed out of the relegation zone on the strength of a three-match unbeaten streak, but they still sit just two points from the bottom three.
They can extend that gap with a home win today against a Stoke City side enjoying their own impressive campaign.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa notched an important relegation battle victory over Reading, while Clint Dempsey helped Tottenham to victory over Liverpool.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj helped Aston Villa notch their second win of the season, while Brad Friedel, Clint Dempsey, and Tottenham Hotspur went down to Wigan Athletic.
Clint Dempsey and Tottenham Hotspur were knocked out of the League Cup by fellow Premier League outfit Norwich City, while Eric Lichaj provided the game-winning assist in Aston Villa's victory over Swindon Town.
Aston Villa beat Swindon Town 3-2 in the League Cup on Tuesday at County Ground. Trailing by two goals, Swindon staged a late comeback equalizing in the 81st after scoring in the 78th. Eric Lichaj started and assisted on Christian Benteke's stoppage time winner. "I thought it was our doing because at two-nil we were doing ever so well," Villa manager Paul Lambert said.
Eric Lichaj may not be starting for Aston Villa on a regular basis, but he made a case for himself on Tuesday.
Starting in his first game since Sept. 15, Lichaj went the distance and made an impact on the game by setting up the winning goal in the Villans' 3-2 Capital One Cup victory over Swindon Town.
Tim Howard an Everton have eyes for the Premier League top spot as they take on Wigan Athletic, while Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham take on Brad Guza, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa.
As far as Americans Abroad match-ups go, this weekend could provide one of the best of the season.
As many as four Americans could be on the field at the same time on Sunday, as Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa. Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Villans netminder Brad Guzan are likely to square off in a battle of former mentor and apprentice, while Clint Dempsey might have to beat the likes of Eric Lichaj in order to score in a second consecutive league game for fifth-place Tottenham.
Manchester City's disappointing start to the new campaign continued on Tuesday, with Aston Villa knocking the defending English Premier League champions out of the Capital One Cup with a 4-2 comeback victory.
City held an early lead on the Villans, but Paul Lambert's side rallied to send the match into extra time, where Charles N'Zogbia and Gabriel Agbonlahor provided the winning goals.
In England's League Cup, Eric Lichaj subbed on in the 86th minute for Aston Villa's 4-2 win over Manchester City. Villa got help from an own goal to equalize in the 59th minute, but were once again trailing City five minutes later. Gabriel Agbonlahor equalized for Villa in the 70th minute, with that 2-2 score carrying the game into overtime.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj look to lead Aston Villa against Manchester City in League Cup play, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United welcome Clint Dempsey and Tottenham to Brunton Park.
Tim Howard and Everton hope to keep their strong season going as they take on Swansea City, while Eric Lichaj, Brad Guzan, and Aston Villa look to win their second game in a row this weekend.
Brad Friedel, Clint Dempsey and Tottenham notched their first win of the season with a victory over Reading, while Eric Lichaj, Brad Guzan, and Aston Villa defeated highflying Swansea City.
Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu look to help Stoke City notch a win over defending Premier League champions' Manchester City, while Eric Lichaj, Brad Guzan, and Aston Villa take on high flying Swansea City.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa drew with Newcastle, while Jonathan Spector and Birmingham
City notched their first win of the season over Peterborough United.
Terrence Boyd's start to the season has been better than many could have imagined, and he
continued his run of good form by inspiring Rapid Vienna to their latest victory.
Three days after scoring a goal that helped Rapid Vienna advance to the Europa League group
stage, the young U.
Clark and Ben Arfa score on either side of the break as Aston Villa and Newcastle draw, 1-1. AV
did the majority of the fouling, and there was a Eric Lichaj sighting for AV as the American gets
the nod to start. Video: Dailymotion
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Both Arsenal and Manchester City endured painful UEFA Champions League defeats at midweek, and both must shake off those disappointments if they are going to avoid falling any further back of current English Premier League leaders Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Citizens have a golden chance to close the gap on one or both of the EPL leaders when they play host to Swansea.
Premier League, and Brad Guzan was in goal for Aston Villa, drawing 1-1 with Newcastle. Eric Lichaj
also started, with both players yellow carded in stoppage time. Ciaran Clark scored Villa's goal in
the 22nd minute with Newcastle equalizing in the 59th. "Brad made two world-class saves - the
free-kick at the end and the one in the first half," Villa manager Paul Lambert said.
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea, and Stoke City take on Arsenal at the Emirates, while Tim Howard and Everton welcome Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa to Goodison Park.
The USA return to World Cup qualifications today with their match against Jamaica at Kingston.
They are without Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley who are out with injuries. Amongst the
midfielders, Bradley has an established reputation for his box to box contribution and link up with
the strikers up top.
