Aston Villa vs Manchester United: The Preview

Pressure is mounting on Manchester United and manager Erik Ten Hag as we head into this crunch fixture against high-flying Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon at Villa Park. A positive result is needed after the Red Devils surrendered a 2-0 lead at Porto to claim a 3-3 draw in the Europa League. Our opponents produced an upset in Champions League’s history by beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in a night that will live long in the memory of Villa fans.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been reported that he will be watching at Villa Park and if another damaging result occurs then this could be the final blow for Ten Hag’s tenure at the club having been given the stay of execution months ago after winning the FA Cup. Ratcliffe has said that any decision on the manager’s future will not be his call.

United looked like they were on their way to the first win in the Europa League when we raced into a 2-0 lead against Porto. However, we were pegged back through a Pepe header and Samu Omorodion double that put the Portuguese side on course for the victory. Harry Maguire’s late header then salvaged a point for the Red Devils.

It is the second game in a row where we have conceded three goals after the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday. It was compounded with Bruno Fernandes’s red card, which was rescinded on appeal. We have not won in our last four games across all competitions and currently sit 13th in the Premier League table. Out of the 10 matches this season, United have only won three of them which has put Ten Hag’s job under more scrutiny than before.

The only glint of light at the moment is that we secured back-to-back clean sheets away at Crystal Palace and Southampton. It is not since March 2021 that we have kept three straight shut-outs away from home. The last four games against Aston Villa have seen the Red Devils triumph with a Scott McTominay winner securing a 2-1 victory at Villa Park last season. A win might just give Ten Hag a bit more time.

Manchester United Team News

For United, Bruno Fernandes will be able to take part after having his red card from last weekend’s game against Tottenham rescinded. The treatment room still sees Luke Shaw (calf), Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Leny Yoro (foot) continue to recover from their respective injuries. Mason Mount will need to be assessed ahead of the game after suffering a knock and a cut to the head.

Kobbie Mainoo had been forced off during the 3-0 defeat versus Spurs and did not feature in the match-day squad at Porto. Though he has been in training this week and is expected to make the trip to Villa Park. He will likely be on the bench rather than in the starting eleven. Marcus Rashford arguably had one of his best 45 minutes in a United shirt on Thursday evening before being taken off at half time. Ten Hag confirmed after the game this was for rotation purposes and not an injury. Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho could start on the flanks with Amad Diallo making way.

Manchester United Possible Lineup

Onana; 

Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Dalot; 

Eriksen, Ugarte; 

Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford;

Zirkzee.

Opposition Preview

Aston Villa produced an unforgettable night at Villa Park on Wednesday evening to secure a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final. It was their super sub once again in Jhon Duran making his impact after nine minutes on the pitch when he lifted the ball over Manuel Neuer into the net sending the Villa fans into pure ecstasy. It is now two wins from two in the Champions League and Villa are in hot form having won six of the last seven across all competitions. In between those victories, there was a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town last weekend.

Had they secured all three points at Portman Road, then Villa would have been challenging Liverpool for the top spot in the Premier League table. It is not since the 2008/09 season under the reign of Martin O’Neill that they have 13 points from their opening six league games.

Aston Villa Team News

Villa’s epic win over Bayern Munich in midweek came at a cost with Jacob Ramsey coming off with a suspected groin injury in the first half, whilst Amadou Onana was forced off before the hour mark with a hamstring issue. It remains to be seen whether both will make the squad for Sunday. Leon Bailey who came on for Ramsey was also taken off and is a doubt. Out of the three, Emery confirmed it was Onana he was most confident of featuring against United.

Form Guide

Manchester United Premier League form: LLWDL

Manchester United form (all competitions): WDDLD

Aston Villa Premier League form: LWWWD

Aston Villa form (all competitions): WWWDW

Prediction

United have had Aston Villa’s number in recent seasons but our opponents are in a rich vein of form and are coming into the game after their huge victory over Bayern Munich in midweek. We will have to fight hard if we are going to get anything at Villa Park. If the result does not go our way then even more questions of Ten Hag’s position will increase as we head into the international break.

Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United