Three points will be of utmost importance in the top-four race when Aston Villa and Manchester United meet at Villa Park on Sunday.
Gameweek 24 of the 2023/24 Premier League season continues on Sunday, with the day bringing us two matches. The action will get underway with a London Derby, with West Ham United and Arsenal facing off at the London Stadium. The proceedings will end at Villa Park, where Aston Villa will host Manchester United.
Aston Villa would have hoped to push for a top-six finish this season and qualify for the UEFA Europa League. But they have become one of the underdogs for a top-four finish as they currently occupy the fourth spot on the Premier League table. However, Unai Emery’s men have blown hot and cold in the last few weeks and come into Sunday’s game on the back of a 3-1 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup.
On the other hand, Manchester United have regressed this season instead of challenging for multiple trophies. The Red Devils are already out of the EFL Cup and the UEFA Champions League while only having a mathematical chance to win the Premier League title. But a top-four finish is not out of the cards, with Aston Villa only eight points ahead. So, a win on Sunday can potentially be the proverbial six-pointer.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester United come from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring the match-winner. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Sunday, the Aston Villa manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players.
But the good news is Pau Torres is ready to return to action after recovering from an ankle injury. In addition, Lucas Digne is in contention to feature after shrugging off a hamstring issue. But Ezri Konsa is unavailable after spraining his knee last week.
Konsa has joined Tyrone Mings (knee), Emiliano Buendia (knee), and Jhon Duran (knock) in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will line up in a 4-4-2 formation against Manchester United, with Emiliano Martinez taking his spot between the sticks.
Torres should replace Konsa in the starting eleven, pairing up with Clement Lenglet at the heart of the defence. Alex Moreno and Matty Cash will likely start as the two full-backs, with the duo looking to wreak havoc in the final third.
As for the midfield unit, Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara will aim to shore up things in the middle of the park. John McGinn and Leon Bailey will complete the numbers in the department, with the duo charging forward at every opportunity. Speaking of the offensive duo, Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby will be the two strikers for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Torres, Lenglet, Moreno; Bailey, Luiz, Kamara, McGinn; Diaby, Diaby, Watkins
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the Aston Villa dugout, Erik ten Hag has a new concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Villa Park. The Manchester United manager will be without five first-team players on Sunday.
Lisandro Martinez is the latest absentee, with the Argentine international picking up a knee injury last weekend against West Ham United. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has joined Tyrell Malacia (knee), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (knock), Mason Mount (calf), and Anthony Martial (groin) on the sidelines.
Andre Onana will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Aston Villa. The backline should see one change, with Raphael Varane replacing Martinez as Harry Maguire’s central defensive partner. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw will be the two full-backs.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro, with the latter rediscovering his form alongside the upstart. Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford being the two wide attackers. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line for the away side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Manchester United will aim for a fourth consecutive victory over Aston Villa in all competitions on Sunday, having come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the most recent meeting on Boxing Day.
- Aston Villa have won nine of their 11 home league matches this season, with only the table-topping Liverpool having a better record. The Villans have a joint-high 30 home goals in this season’s top flight, scoring in every match at Villa Park
- Manchester United are looking for a fourth consecutive win in all competitions for the first time this season. The Red Devils have scored 11 times in their run of three victories, having previously only managed ten goals in as many games.
- Aston Villa Villa have scored 49 Premier League goals this campaign, only two short of their total last season.
- Ollie Watkins, with 11 goals and 10 assists, is the first player to reach double figures for both in any of Europe’s top five leagues this season. He is also the first Aston Villa player to achieve this in a top-flight campaign since Dwight Yorke in 1995/96.
Player to Watch
Kobbie Mainoo
While Rasmus Hojlund has finally found his scoring boots in the last few weeks, the key differentiator for Manchester United has been Kobbie Mainoo. The Englishman is only 18 years old but has played beyond his years thus far this term.
So, it is hardly surprising that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to sanction a new contract for the teenage sensation. As for matters on the pitch, Mainoo will be crucial for Manchester United to keep the Aston Villa midfielders at bay. In turn, Ollie Watkins will remain quiet for long periods, thus boosting Manchester United’s prospects on Sunday.
Prediction
Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United
Aston Villa’s excellent home record is only behind Liverpool in the 2023/24 season. On the other hand, Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 24 Premier League matches in February (W15 D9), last losing a league match in this month in 2018. So, an outright result can tarnish one of those on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Villans have lost successive home fixtures for the first time in a year after 20 wins and just one defeat at Villa Park in 22 games in all competitions. So, with Manchester United seemingly turning their form around in the last few weeks, they might spring a surprise on Sunday. The Hard Tackle predicts a closely contested affair that will end in a 2-1 win for the away side.
