Fixtures
- Aston Villa Vs. Manchester United – Sun, Oct 6th 2024, 14:00
After the huge highs of a Champions League win in midweek, Aston Villa resume Premier League action against Manchester United.
Unai Emery’s squad overcame Bayern Munich 1-0 at Villa Park to extend a strong start to the domestic and European season, with a Jhon Durán goal doing the damage.
Villa are now hunting a fourth consecutive home victory as they bid to keep pace with the other sides at the top of the table.
Manchester United have endured an inconsistent start to their Premier League campaign as they bid to improve on last season’s eighth-place finish.
Two victories, a draw and three defeats, including a 3-0 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur last time out, left United in 13th place ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.
Erik ten Hag’s side showed their togetherness by fighting back to draw 3-3 against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night via a stoppage time header from Harry Maguire.
Stats
Aston Villa’s solitary victory in their past 25 Premier League home fixtures against Manchester United was by 3-1 in Unai Emery’s first game in charge of the club in November 2022.
United’s 40 Premier League wins against Villa is more than against any other opponent in the division other than Everton (41).
Villa’s tally of 13 points is their highest after six league games of a Premier League season since 2008-09.
United are aiming to keep a clean sheet in three consecutive league away outings for the first time since March 2021.
Ollie Watkins has 36 goals and 19 assists in his 67 Premier League appearances under Emery; only Erling Haaland (65) and Mohamed Salah (60) have been involved in more during that time.
Watkins is aiming to score in four consecutive league games for the first time since April 2023.
Marcus Rashford has scored four goals in his past six games in all competitions, as many as he had managed in his previous 21.
Jhon Durán averages a goal every 48 minutes in all competitions so far this season. He has come off the bench to score in all four of Villa’s league wins.
Manchester United’s tally of seven points after six games is their joint fewest at this stage of a Premier League campaign, alongside 2013-14 under David Moyes and 2020-21 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Since Emery’s appointment, only Manchester City (85), Liverpool (84) and Arsenal (81) have earned more points at home than Villa’s 74.
United have failed to score in three of their six league matches so far this season, more than any other team in the division.
The Last Meeting
Aston Villa lost out to a late goal from Manchester United at Villa Park in February.
After Rasmus Højlund fired the visitors in front on 17 minutes, the home side were the dominant force and called André Onana into several fine saves.
The pressure finally told after 67 minutes when Douglas Luiz turned home Leon Bailey’s cross, with the hosts immediately going in search of a winner.
However, it was the visitors who found the net during a rare foray forward after 86 minutes when substitute Scott McTominay headed home from Diogo Dalot’s cross.
Team News
Unai Emery labelled Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey doubts for the game after they both came off against Bayern Munich.
The manager is more optimistic on Amadou Onana’s chances to play, while John McGinn remains sidelined.
United are sweating on the fitness of Kobbie Mainoo and fellow midfielder Mason Mount.
Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro are all absentees for the Reds.
Managers’ Pre-Match Thoughts
“We are playing on Sunday against Manchester United and I think it’s a huge match for us after we played Bayern Munich because through Premier League we are playing against the best teams in the world. Manchester United aren’t in the Champions League now they are playing in the Europa League, but they are a team with a quality players and coach, like teams we are facing in the Champions League. On Sunday, we will need the same atmosphere with the supporters in Villa Park like we had on Wednesday. I have no doubt they are going to help and support on Sunday, transmitting their energy and pushing us to get three points.”
– Unai Emery
“What is a mental issue? So that is a range, a spectrum of topics and you have to address it right. So this team has belief, they don’t give up that. In that range of mentality, they have a strong mentality but, in some other parts, they have to step up. If you want to win trophies, in some areas, we have to improve.” – Erik ten Hag
