Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Tuesday as they visit Manchester United for a mouthwatering clash at Old Trafford.
The Lions are currently sitting third in the Premier League table, with an incredible 11 points ahead of United.
Match Preview
Man Utd endured another frustrating game on Saturday as West Ham United condemned them to a 2-0 defeat.
Alejandro Garnacho missed a brilliant scoring opportunity in the first half, and they were made to pay for that mistake.
Jarrod Bowen broke the deadlock after being set up with a wonderful chipped pass by Lucas Paqueta on 72nd minute.
Six minutes later, Mohammed Kudus added another after pouncing on a mistake from Kobbie Mainoo.
The result has further increased pressure on manager Erik ten Hag who has led his side to a miserable start this season.
The Dutchman must revive United’s fortunes soon, otherwise he may not last long at Old Trafford.
On the other hand, Aston Villa missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table after dropping points in their most recent fixture against Sheffield United.
Unai Emery’s men dominated possession and chances, but still failed to breach the Blades defences for the majority of the game.
Then, in the 88th minute, the hosts were stunned by their former player Cameron Archer who fired home the opener from close range.
Substitute Nicolo Zaniolo saved them from a shocking defeat with a header deep into stoppage time as they sealed a 1-1 draw.
Despite the stalemate, the Lions are still a point behind leaders Arsenal in the league standings.
Villa have been so good this season that many are considering them as genuine contenders for the league crown.
But even if they miss out on the title, Emery and his team still deserve massive credit for completely transforming the fortunes of the club within such a short time.
Team News
Raphael Varane missed the last game for Manchester United due to illness, but he is likely to return to the team on Tuesday. Diogo Dalot will also return from suspension, but Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo will all remain sidelined due to fitness issues.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa will be missing Matty Cash as he picked up his fifth yellow card against Sheffield United. The other absentees for the Lions this week are Emiliano Buendia, Youri Tielemans, Tyrone Mings, Bertrand Traore and Robin Olsen, who are all in the infirmary.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa potential line-ups
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Evans, Varane, Reguilon; McTominay, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Moreno; Zaniolo, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Diaby, Watkins
Manchester United vs Aston Villa prediction
Beating Manchester United at Old Trafford looked almost an impossible feat in the past, but that is no longer a formidable prospect. United have been struggling for form recently, while their opponents haven’t been very convincing either.
Aston Villa’s last three results show they have won only once from their previous three matches in all competitions. However, we are still backing Emery’s men to prevail on Tuesday.
Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa
