The Hard Tackle lists three players who can singlehandedly influence the clash between Manchester United and Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Tuesday is a busy day in the Premier League, with the traditional Boxing Day fixtures greeting us. The action is already underway, and it will end at Old Trafford, where Manchester United will welcome Aston Villa.
There is no rest for the weary, with Manchester United struggling to create much momentum this season. The Red Devils have lost half of their 26 games this season, winning only 11 times. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s men have failed to find the back of the net in their last four outings. But the weekend brought some cheer after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority acquisition became official.
As for Aston Villa, the visitors are flying high, with only one point separating them and Arsenal at the top of the table. No team has won more games than Unai Emery’s charges this season. The Villans are currently on a ten-game unbeaten run, including victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur. So, Emery will back his charges to claim another big scalp.
Aston Villa’s rise under Emery makes Tuesday’s clash the marquee fixture of Gameweek 19. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists three “key players” who can have a positive impact when Manchester United and Aston Villa clash at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
Bruno Fernandes
Who else but the Manchester United talisman? Bruno Fernandes continues to lead the creativity charts in the Premier League. But that is not translating into goals from the attackers, although he has also blown hot and cold on a few occasions.
One cannot fault the Portuguese international for a lack of effort. But other factors have also impacted his performances, with Erik ten Hag tasking him to drop deep at times. Nonetheless, Fernandes will be eager to lead by example on Tuesday.
For him to do that, Bruno Fernandes must also provide a goal threat, considering the Red Devils have not found the back of the net for over six hours. So, if he embraces more responsibility, he can bring out more from his teammates. Hence, how the Manchester United captain fares on Tuesday will go a long way in determining his team’s fortunes.
Douglas Luiz
Bruno Fernandes will only make his mark on Tuesday’s game at Old Trafford if the Aston Villa midfielders do not rise to the occasion. In particular, how Douglas Luiz fares on Boxing Day will determine the game’s outcome.
The Brazilian international tends to dominate the midfield battle whenever he takes the field. He needs to be at his vigilant best for Aston Villa to extend Manchester United’s goal drought. In addition, Luiz will look to initiate quick transitions to catch the home side’s vulnerable defence off-guard.
The 25-year-old’s exploits this season have alerted many high-profile clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool. But Luiz remains committed to Aston Villa, at least until the end of the season. With his head in the game, the Brazilian midfield powerhouse needs to stamp his authority in the middle of the park to deliver another big result for Aston Villa this season.
Marcus Rashford
With goals coming at a premium, Manchester United need a moment of brilliance to end the drought and set the ball rolling again. While our final pick has been substandard this term, he can produce that individual excellence to inspire a turnaround from his team. We are talking about Marcus Rashford.
The Englishman has been a pale shadow of himself, which has been surprising, considering his exploits in the 2022/23 season. But Rashford has found the back of the net only twice thus far this term, lacking confidence and individual quality to deliver the goods for his team.
With Rasmus Hojlund yet to get off the mark in the Premier League, Rashford needs to rediscover his best form, considering Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are not prolific customers in the final third. The time is now for the English international to rise to the occasion and deliver the goods for his team. If not, Manchester United’s dreadful run will continue.
