Aston Villa and Manchester United will lock horns at Villa Park on Sunday, with the two teams experiencing vastly different campaigns.
The curtains will fall on Gameweek 7 of the 2024/25 Premier League on Sunday, with the day featuring three matches. The action will kick-start with two simultaneous fixtures, including Aston Villa vs Manchester United at Villa Park.
Aston Villa could not have hoped for a better start to the 2024/25 season apart from avoiding a few blips. The Villans were only three points behind the table-topping Liverpool heading into the latest round of fixtures. In addition, Unai Emery’s men have been exceptional in the UEFA Champions League and beat Bayern Munich 1-0 earlier this week.
On the other hand, Manchester United can barely get things right nearly two months into the 2024/25 season. The Red Devils would have hoped to turn a corner after cruising to a 7-0 win over Barnsley in the EFL Cup last month. However, they have not won a game since then, with Erik ten Hag under increasing pressure at Old Trafford. The latest setback was a 3-3 draw in the UEFA Europa League, which came after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham last week.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Manchester United clinch a narrow 2-1 win over Aston Villa, with Scott McTominay scoring the late match-winning goal. 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 new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Aston Villa manager might be bereft of the services of as many as six first-team players vs Manchester United on Sunday.
Jacob Ramsey (groin) and Amadou Onana (hamstring) could not finish the midweek UEFA Champions League game against Bayern Munich and might not be fit enough to start on Sunday. In addition, Emery is sweating over Leon Bailey’s fitness after he sustained an issue earlier this week. Tyrone Mings (knee), John McGinn (thigh), and Boubacar Kamara (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Emiliano Martinez is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Aston Villa lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne.
As for the midfield unit, Ross Barkley and Youri Tielemans should pair up in the central areas, with Morgan Rogers and Jaden Philogene providing the width from the flanks. Finally, Ollie Watkins and the in-form Jhon Duran will be the two strikers.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Rogers, Barkley, Tielemans, Philogene; Duran, Watkins
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Aston Villa dugout, Erik ten Hag does not have any new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Villa Park. The Manchester United manager might be without as many as five first-team players.
The Dutch tactician hopes to see Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount shrug off their knocks. However, they might not be fit enough to start. Luke Shaw (leg), Leny Yoro (foot), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) remain 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 vs Aston Villa on Sunday. The backline should feature Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot.
As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte should pair up in the double pivot, with Mainoo likely an option on the bench. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee should lead the line for Manchester United against Aston Villa, with Rasmus Hojlund dropping out.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
Key Stats
- Aston Villa have managed only one victory in their last 25 Premier League home fixtures vs Manchester United, beating the Red Devils 3-1 in Unai Emery’s first game in charge of the club in November 2022. United’s 40 Premier League wins against Villa is their highest tally against any other opponent in the division other than Everton (41).
- Since Unai Emery arrived at the club, only Manchester City (85), Liverpool (84) and Arsenal (81) have earned more points at home than Aston Villa (74).
- Manchester United have failed to score in three of their six Premier League matches thus far this season, more than any other team in the division. However, they can keep a clean sheet in three successive league away outings for the first time since March 2021.
- Ollie Watkins has 36 goals and 19 assists in his 67 Premier League appearances under Unai Emery. Only Erling Haaland (65) and Mohamed Salah (60) have contributed to more strikes during that time. Watkins can score in four consecutive league games for the first time since April 2023.
- Marcus Rashford has scored four goals in his last six games in all competitions, as many as he had managed in his previous 21. Rashford’s only Premier League goal against Aston Villa came in his first appearance in this fixture in 2016; he has since faced them eight times without finding the back of the net.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes is in an unfamiliar situation for the first time as a Manchester United player. Not only has the Portuguese international seen red in two successive matches, but he has never struggled to stamp his authority for long periods during his spell with the Red Devils.
Many are starting to question Fernandes’s suitability to Erik ten Hag’s system, as bizarre as it may sound. However, if there is a player who has proven that he can be Manchester United’s inspiration, it is their club captain. However, the 30-year-old will be desperate to make his mark after a dreadful start to the 2024/25 season.
Prediction
Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United
Manchester United could have only asked for a few worse matches in their current run of form. With the Red Devils struggling to end their dreadful patch, Aston Villa will feel the visitors are ripe for the taking this weekend.
The familiar issues will resurface at Villa Park, with Aston Villa overrunning the Manchester United midfielders for large parts of Sunday’s game. Marcus Rashford might salvage some pride with a rare goal against the Villans. However, that will only be a consolation goal, with Sunday poised to become the Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran show. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Unai Emery and his charges.