Manchester United vs Aston Villa Preview: Premier League Giants vs The team that is playing like Premier League Giants.
Aston Villa are set to take on Manchester United who have been having a gut-wrenching campaign this season. As we approach the halfway point, the Red Devils have already been knocked out of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup. Erik Ten Hag can no longer hide behind the team’s injury struggles.
After a mediocre half of football, West Ham United fired two home to take the game away from Manchester United on Saturday. The players were so dejected after conceding just once that the game looked completely hopeless after the second goal.
This loss also marked defeat number 13 for Erik Ten Hag’s team this season. The last time that the Red Devils lost 13 games in this manner was back in 1930! This was also the season where Manchester United were relegated though that is unlikely to happen ever again.
Aston Villa could end Erik Ten Hag’s stint as Manchester United’s coach
Unai Emery has completely turned things around for the Villans. His team is currently sitting at number three on the Premier League table. They are just one point behind table-toppers Arsenal. This is an achievement that no one saw coming ahead of the season.
Aston Villa have been in good form and have won three out of their last five games. Those three wins include a 1-0 win over Manchester City, another 1-0 win over Arsenal, and a 2-1 win over Brentford. The Villans went toe to toe with two of the best teams in the Premier League and came out on top.
The thought of Manchester United beating Aston Villa is almost unfathomable for most football fans. The Red Devils have fallen from grace. Meanwhile, the football gods have favoured the Lions who undoubtedly have a shot at winning the Premier League.
What kind of formation will the two teams take up?
Manchester United will likely take the field in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. However, this has seemed to not work out time and time again so keep your eyes peeled for any changes. Aston Villa on the other hand will most definitely go with a 3-5-2 formation.
Unai Emery has breathed newfound life into the Villans and they will stick to their usual gameplan. Expect Aston Villa to be aggressive from the jump. However, Manchester United will also not sit silently as they will be backed by the home crowd at Old Trafford.
This is primed to be the game where The Red Devils finally end their 4-game goal drought. The Lions tend to ease up on defence whenever they’re away from home, Ten Hag’s men will be looking to take full advantage of this as they head into the game.
Predicted XI
For his defensive line, Ten Hag will likely go with Willy Kambwala and Raphael Varane. The Frenchman missed their trip to the London Stadium because of a virus but will likely be available against Aston Villa.
19-year-old Kambwala showed promise on Saturday and deserves to start again. The Dutchman’s choice of fullback will likely be Diogo Dalot who is returning from suspension and Luke Shaw who was excellent against the Hammers.
Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Lisandro Martinez, Carlos Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount will be missing this matchup due to injuries.
We can expect to see 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay being played as defensive midfielders. However, Christian Eriksen could also be counted on to start now that he has returned from the sidelines.
Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are expected to be starting up front with Rasmus Hojlund playing as a centre-forward. However, this might finally be the game where Ten Hag takes a leap of faith and allows Marcus Rashford to start.
The visitors Aston Villa will be travelling without Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara who are both suspended. Apart from that Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos and Pau Torres are expected to serve as Unai Emery’s defensive line.
Leon Bailey, Álex Moreno, John McGinn, Leander Dendoncker and Jacob Ramsey will more than likely be Emery’s middle line of choice. His attack will feature the amazing Ollie Watkins and John Duran. However, Moussa Diaby looks like a better choice when compared to Duran.
Prediction
It will be an uphill battle for Manchester United even though they will be playing at home. Aston Villa will probably look to grab an early goal in this matchup. Time and time again we have seen the Manchester United players give up after conceding in a game.
One player to look out for is Rasmus Hojlund. He has been searching for his first Premier League goal for a very long time and will look forward to grabbing it at such a crucial time. However, I believe that Manchester United will fail to overcome Unai Emery and the result will be a 3-1 victory for the Villans.
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Fans are hoping that a big performance will be on the board for the Manchester United players. Erik Ten Hag cannot afford to lose this game. His position as the Red Devils’ chief could very well be hanging in the balance at this exact moment.
