With their fortress walls collapsing, Aston Villa look for their second win in six games when a resurgent Manchester United visits Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions‘ FA Cup journey ended with a 3-1 loss to Chelsea in Wednesday’s fourth-round replay, while the Red Devils defeated West Ham United 3-0 in their most recent Premier League match. All good things must come to an end, and they definitely have for Aston Villa, who welcome Manchester United to their West Midlands headquarters after two consecutive 3-1 defeats at home – a long cry from their record-breaking 15-match winning streak in front of their own fans.
Chelsea’s FA Cup replay win against the Lions stunned fans and analysts on Wednesday. Chelsea advanced to the fifth round thanks to Conor Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson, and Enzo Fernandez before Moussa Diaby equalised. Emery’s love for knockout events was inconsequential against the motivated Blues, who triumphed at Villa Park one week after Newcastle United’s similar success on Villains’ soil.
At Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund’s opener and Alejandro Garnacho’s double defeated West Ham United, who had defeated the Red Devils at the London Stadium in December. The pair invited another teenage star Kobbie Mainoo to join them arm-in-arm on the advertising boards as Man United continued their near-perfect start to 2024, winning four of their five Premier League and FA Cup games and drawing 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur.
After defeating the Irons, Man United moved up to sixth position in the Premier League, eight points behind fourth-placed Villa, and 31 goals scored remains the worst in the league. Ten Hag’s team has improved offensively, scoring 11 goals in their last three games and 19 in their last seven. On Boxing Day, they won their third straight game against Villa with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win, with Hojlund letting emotion take over after finally opening his Premier League account.
Aston Villa Team News
Aston Villa manager Emery will have Morgan Rogers back at his disposal after the ex-Middlesbrough winger was ruled ineligible for the FA Cup loss to Chelsea, while Nicolo Zaniolo and Pau Torres were also given the green light to return to the matchday squad after recovering from injuries.
However, Ezri Konsa will miss three to four weeks of play due to a knee injury; similar concerns are keeping Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia out indefinitely; and attacker Jhon Duran is also recovering from a significant hamstring injury. Only Lucas Digne (thigh) can return for the Lions this weekend, and Emery should consider elevating Diaby, Torres, and Ramsey to the first team after Wednesday’s terrible performance.
Manchester United Team News
Martinez is one of five Manchester United players missing due to injury. Anthony Martial (groyne), Tyrell Malacia (knee), and Mason Mount (calf) are still out, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka left Thursday’s training session with an unclear problem and will also miss the trip to Villa Park.
Raphael Varane should be a direct replacement for the injured Martinez in the Red Devils’ defence, but Ten Hag has no reason to change a winning formula as Hojlund attempts to become the youngest player in Manchester United history to score in five consecutive Premier League games.
Head-to-head
Aston Villa have won 3 out of the last 5 meeting against the Red Devils’ and the Devils’ winning 2.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Torres, Lenglet, Moreno; Luiz, Kamara; Diaby, Tielemans, McGinn; Watkins
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Aston Villa vs Manchester United Prediction
Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester United
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