Manchester United welcome title-challenging Aston Villa to Old Trafford in a blockbuster Boxing Day encounter.
Victory could see Man Utd climb to sixth if Newcastle lose elsewhere, whilst Villa could go top with a win if Liverpool fail to beat Burnley in the teatime kick-off.
Team News
Diogo Dalot is available for Man Utd after he missed their defeat at West Ham as he served his one-match ban.
Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial (both illness) and Amad Diallo (knee) are doubts and won’t be rushed back unless declared match fit.
Victor Lindelof (knock), Lisandro Martinez (foot), Harry Maguire (muscle), Casemiro (hamstring), Mason Mount (calf), Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Jadon Sancho (personal) remain sidelined.
Aston Villa will be without Matty Cash after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in Villa’s 1-1 draw against Sheffield United.
Pau Torres (ankle) is a doubt but Robin Olsen (knock), Youri Tielemans (calf), Tyrone Mings (knee), Bertrand Traore (muscle), Boubacar Kamara (suspension) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Boxing Day in a 8pm GMT kick-off, live on Amazon Prime in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd are unbeaten in six of their last eight league meetings against Villa (W4, D2, L2).
- Aston Villa have won one of their last five visits to Man Utd (W1, D1, L3).
- Utd’s Bruno Fernandes scored in each of his last two appearances at home against Villa in all competitions (W2).
- Utd have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight league games at home (W4, L4).
- Ollie Watkins has scored in each of his last three away appearances in the top-flight for Villa (W2, D1).
Prediction
With just two goals scored in one of their six matches in December in all competitions, Man Utd certainly need a huge improvement after a wasteful display at West Ham, where they simply lacked much attacking quality whilst lacklustre defending was punished in quick succession.
Villa meanwhile struggled to find ways to break down a stubborn Sheffield Utd defence which is a small concern in terms of their creativity when on the attack against defensive teams, especially given how resilient Utd are when parking the bus as they did at Liverpool.
Now if Man Utd do go on the defensive as I fear that they might do then Villa will need to really find ways to unlock their defence and be creative, because if they are as sluggish as they were against Sheffield Utd then Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils might just snatch this if not a draw.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
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