Key events
Those teams: Manchester United have made four changes to the team that lost against West Ham last time out. Diogo Dalot returns from suspension and lines up at left-back in place of Luke Shaw, who is injured. Raphael Varane returns from illness in place of Willy Kambala, whilie Antony is dropped to the bench, with Marcus Rashford coming in as United look for their first goal in four games. Christian Eriksen starts for the first time since getting injured in mid-November and replaces Scott McTominay in midfield.
Unai Emery makes two changes from the VIlla side that drew with Sheffield United. Diego Carlos comes in at centre-back, with Ezri Konsa likely to move to right-back as cover for the suspended Matty Cash. Leander Dendoncker starts in midfield, in place of Moussa Diaby.
Manchester United v Aston Villa line-ups
Manchester United: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Varane, Dalot, Mainoo, Eriksen, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Reguilon, Antony, Pellistri, van de Beek, McTominay, Gore, Mejbri, Kambwala.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Dendoncker, Watkins.
Subs: Torres, Alex Moreno, Chambers, Diaby, Zaniolo, Duran, Marschall, Iroegbunam, Proctor.
Tonight’s match officials
-
Referee: Craig Pawson
-
Referee’s assistants: Richard West and Steve Meredith
-
Fourth official: Rob Jones
-
Video Assistant: Referee: Stuart Attwell
-
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard
Early team news
Diogo Dalot returns from suspension, but with Amad Diallo, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia all injured, Erik ten Hag will be hoping that the virus which ruled both Raphael Varane and Antony Martial out of his side’s defeat at West Ham has done its worst. Rasmus Hojlund was also reported to be suffering from illness and was forced off after 57 minutes of ineffective huffing and puffing at the London Stadium.
The United’s striker came in for some criticism on the back of his ineffective performance but barely got a touch of the ball during the hour he spent on the field. Jadon Sancho, who has not kicked a ball in competition for United since August, remains in his manager’s bad books and won’t feature tonight.
Villa right-back Matty Cash has to sit this one out after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Sheffield United and joins Boubacar Kamara on the Naughty Step. The French midfielder is serving the second game of the ban he picked up for his small role in the pantomime brawl initiated by his team-mate Emi Martinez towards the end of Villa’s recent win over Brentford. The fitness of Pau Torres is also in doubt, while Unai Emery is also without Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Bertrand Traore and Youri Tielemans remain out.
Premier League: Manchester United v Aston Villa
Manchester United fans enjoyed some long overdue festive cheer on Christmas Eve when it was confirmed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had finally completed a deal to buy a 25% minority stake in their club.
Quite how the British billionaire’s investment will pan out remains to be seen but it means he and his staff are now in control of football operations in the club and will surely be hard pushed to make a bigger mess of them than those currently in charge.
Or will they? As somebody who takes a keen reasonably keen interest in professional bike-racing, the news that Sir David Brailsford is likely to be given a major say in how things are run at Old Trafford would be a major source of concern if I was a United fan. Other opinions are, of course, available but expect any “gains” made by the players to be of the famously “marginal” variety that Dave loves so much.
Having posted their worth set of pre-Christmas results since 1931, United come into this game on the back of a humbling defeat at the hands of West Ham at the London Stadium. In third place in the title race, their visitors failed to win at home in the league for the first time in 16 games last time out. Indeed, they were lucky to escape with a draw against Sheffield United courtesy of a late, late Nicolo Zaniolo equaliser in added time.
Both sides will be eager to get back to winning ways under the Tuesday night lights at Old Trafford in a Boxing Day fixture that kicks off at 8pm (GMT).
