Manchester United will host Aston Villa in a crucial Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday. The match promises to serve up a spectacle, with the two competing teams aiming for a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League.
Hosts Manchester United will relish the upcoming contest as they are currently in fourth place in the Premier League table, two points behind third-placed Newcastle United who have played a game more. Indeed, the situation of the Red Devils is a fair reflection of their quest as they have been inconsistent in recent weeks.
Erik ten Hag's sie will enter Sunday's encounter having proceeded to the final of the FA Cup with a win over Brighton last week. However, they failed to follow this feat with a win in the Premier League, as they disappointingly shared spoils with Tottenham Hotspur despite taking a two-goal lead into half-time. This, coupled with the disappointing Europa League exit to Sevilla paints a vivid picture of the absence of a killer mentality within the club's ranks.
Needless to say, Manchester United will find solace in the fact that they are unbeaten in their last 25 home matches. The remarkable run dates as far back as September 2022, with the Europa League defeat to Real Sociedad being the only anole at Old Trafford within that period. They have conceded just eight goals during that spectacular run.
For Aston Villa, it is simple the case of how far they can go considering the run they have been on in recent months. The arrival of Unai Emery has literally done wonders for the Villans who are currently in seventh place in the Premier League table. At the moment, only three points separates them and the Red Devils, and victory on Sunday would see them move closer to a top-four finish and enhance their chances of playing in the Champions League next season.
As indicated earlier, Villa's form has been impressive in recent times, remaining unbeaten in their last 10 matches, while picking up 26 points during that period. With that, Unai Emery has set a record of being the first manager to oversee his team score in all of their first 20 Premier League games in charge. Considering the injury situation among the Manchester United defence, the visitors' attackers would be eager to turn up the heat.
Earlier this season, both clubs met, and it was Villa who managed a 3-1 victory in their home stadium back in November. They now have the chance to complete a first double over the Red Devils in 68 years. Overall, the match between Manchester United and Aston Villa promises to be a high-stakes affair, with both teams seeking a win to enhance their chances of finishing in the top four.
Form guide: Manchester United vs Aston Villa
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Manchester United Premier League form: DLWWWD
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Aston Villa Premier League form: WWWWDW
Key stats: Manchester United vs Aston Villa
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Manchester United has lost two of their last three Premier League games against Aston Villa (D1).
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Manchester United remain unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League home games (W11 D3).
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Aston Villa have lost only one of their nine Premier League away games under Unai Emery (W6 D2).
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Aston Villa have kept a clean sheet in nine of their 20 Premier League games under Unai Emery.
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Unai Emery has won two and drawn two of his four Premier League meetings with Manchester United. He is the only manager to have faced Manchester United four times without ever losing.
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Emery could become the first manager to remain unbeaten in his first five against Manchester United.
Team news: Manchester United vs Aston Villa
Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane will not be able to play in the Premier League anymore due to injury concerns. However, Varane is expected to recover in time for the FA Cup final.
Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire's availability for Manchester United's upcoming match is uncertain as they will undergo late fitness tests to determine if they can be included in the squad. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho is close to making a comeback for United, but he may not be ready yet for the upcoming match. On the other hand, Donny van de Beek is out for the rest of the season.
Relatively, Aston Villa's Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho are both recovering from calf and thigh injuries, respectively. Although they are nearing a return, they may still need at least another week to fully recover. Boubacar Kamara is still recovering from an ankle problem, while Leon Bailey is out with a hamstring injury and will not be able to play.
Broadcast information: Manchester United vs Aston Villa
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
