Aston Villa vs Man United – Premier League: Live rating and updates

United have gained 73 per cent of aerial duels on this sport, a testomony to their dominance within the air.

But not this time. United squander a nook and Villa launch a devastating counter-attack, with Bailey on his skates and evading all chasers.

He tries to play in Ramsey however the remaining ball is poor.

Meanwhile, Cash is booked after fouling Rashford and ending up in a tangled heap on the ground with him, and Maguire cannot fairly get on the top of Fernandes’ cross.

After a bleating jiffy, Villa have discovered their grove once more.

As if taking part in rugby, Moreno, Watkins, Cash, Kamara, and Bailey had been all concerned in a quickfire sideways transfer throughout the pitch, fizzing the ball to the following one alongside beofre Bailey had a lunge in direction of the objective and gained a nook together with his effort.

Villa want to observe their excessive line.

Casemiro almost took out seven males their with one dinked move excessive. Martinez was fast off his line to beat Hojlund to it however the Dane was untracked by any defenders.

Defending excessive can work a deal with – it caught Garnacho out a couple of minutes in the past – however it may possibly result in almighty embarrassments in opposition to younger, hungry attackers.

Garnacho wins a nook after Alex Moreno deflects his shot from inside the world.

United have began this half strongly. In specific, Rashford has been an absolute menace on the ball and is playig with actual swagger. Villa are mere spectators when he is on the ball.

Almost a unbelievable solo objective for Rashford there, who swivelled and twisted previous 4 males within the field… earlier than producing a limp shot for Emi Martinez to play with.

At the opposite finish, money intercepts an aimless Lindelof move, Cash drives a ball into the field, and Onana saves a Watkins blast from point-blank vary earlier than the deflection is booted out for a nook.

Chances at each ends to begin this half!

Erik ten Hag has made a change coming into the second half – Lindelof has come on as a straight swap for Shaw.

Fans will likely be involved if there’s yet one more spell on the sidelines beckoning for Shaw.

‘Hojlund has confidence and perception. He’s simply stood there, one contact, end. United have been actually good when it comes to set-pieces.’ – Roy Keane, February 11, 2024

If you simply cannot get sufficient of the foremost speaking level from the primary half, why not take heed to Keane and Merson have a chinwag about it?

Second half incoming quickly.

Plenty of admiration coming in for Rasmus Hojlund, who’s on a sizzling streak for Manchester United. The man who beforehand could not hit a barn door is, for now, the veritable grasp of barn doorways.

One fan, although, prompt his objective within the first half was only a easy tap-in and nothing extra. Thoughts? Are United followers getting too excited?

It was a quiet January switch window, wasn’t it?

Not for Mail Sport!

Nathan Salt has moved up from our London workplace to enrich the workforce overlaying Manchester United.

Go give him some love and observe him on X. Do you agree together with his opinion on how United constructed their first objective?

Kobbie Mainoo is on the naughty step after bowling into McGinn as Villa tried to counter. Probably wanted to do it and few complaints.

Lenglet booked as effectively, maybe for dissent.

Alex Moreno tried shopping for a penalty there as he went down underneath the reasonable stress from Dalot.

The Villa circus was proper behind their left-back with vehement protests however he had little probability with that one – not even when one among his mates was the referee! There was contact, however not sufficient.

A wayward free-kick fro John McGinn virtually goes in!

His left-footed in-swinger flew nowhere close to anyone however did virtually sink in on the close to put up, with Onana scrambling to save lots of. He ought to have simply collected the trouble however fumbled and gave away a nook.

Four minutes added on.

Fernandes is getting a stern telling off after sliding in and taking out Bailey on the proper flank.

The winger had 4 males round him and Fernandes was to 1 to snap at his prancing heels.

Lucky to not be booked, there.

Even although play has moved on, Maguire has nonetheless been jabbering within the referee’s ear concerning the Casemiro reserving.

Mainoo tried to catch Villa out with an early ball excessive to Hojlund, however he offers away possession and Villa come again on the different finish.

McGinn virtually slalomed his means by means of the morass of our bodies within the field however the ball escaped is management and finally it results in the loving, relieved arms of Onana.

Casemiro is the primary to go in Robert Jones’ guide after hardly touching money in any respect, however the right-back threw himself to the bottom. He was transferring at tempo, so the slightest contact can have an effect on you, in equity.

It’s been fairly a bloodthirsty sport, this. Lots of crunching tackles however that wasn’t one among them – Casemiro might have utilized extra power by simply blowing behind him, such was the weak point of the contact.

Really creative stuff from Villa. Watkins, Ramsey, douglaz Luiz, and Bailey all mixed as they strung collectively a pass-and-move assault down the left, however the remaining ball was overhit.

This is like chalk and cheese evaluating them earlier than and after the objective, however actually good cheese.

Bailey appeared like he was crossing a seashore ball there as his effort from the proper ballooned effectively over and almost ended up close to the alternative nook flag.

Villa look actually refreshed since conceding. Perhaps in the event that they concede one other they’re going to develop into like Man City!

Ramsey might have had a foul on the sting of the world after contact from Mainoo however nothing was given. Boos ring out.

Alex Moreno fed Ramsey the ball inside the world and he jinked to the proper, however his curled shot rushed previous the put up and meant Onana did not should work any more durable.

An ideal stat for you – since United’s objective, Villa have had 80 per cent of the ball… although that can literaly be altering as I kind! Some technique to reply.

Onana is down after a collision with Watkins.

He did so effectively to shut down Watkins as he bore down on objective and smothered his shot effectively, however he appears dazed after they smashed into one another.

Herculean arms from Onana!

John McGinn unleashed a red-hot shot from outdoors the world however United’s ‘keeper saves. Didn’t have to maneuver a lot however he did should have arms product of brick to bounce that out.

Villa have lastly had their firts nook (United have had 4 up to now) however Varane rose above the group to powerfully head away Douglaz Luiz’s inswinger.

Villa have some renewed impetus now. Jacob Ramsey tried a shot from vary nevertheless it had some turbo engines connected and whizzed excessive and large.

Hojlund scuffles it in after Maguire beats Kamara to the header from the nook!

He’s slowly merging into Haaland, this Hojlund fella. Five matches on the spn he is scored now, and the way in which he discovered house in a packed field there was harking back to his rival throughout the town.

Be first to the second ball. Hojlund was, and he was rewarded handsomely. Instinctive and predatory.

It’s going to be loss of life by set-pieces at this charge for Villa. They must cope with them a lot better.

Garnacho, United’s whippersnapper on the proper, almost produced a second of greatness there.

Dancing in from the flank, he unleashed a flying shot from 30 yards out and it virtually went the proper facet of the put up simply by power of inevitability. But it wasn’t to be.

Maguire heads over a nook and that would have simply been a objective.

Why is Kamara being requested to mark him? Doesn’t appear probably the most bodily equitable resolution to defending a nook from Aston Villa!

Villa have been underneath the cosh for a couple of minutes, now – Hojlund simply had an enormous probability there however Diego Carlos slid in to divert his shot over.

Unai emery celebrates his a hundredth sport as a Premier League supervisor at present.

It was almost off to a nasty staet, there – Rashford blistered by means of the midfield unchallenged and located Garnacho to his proper, however his ball throughout objective for Hojlund was turned away for a nook by Diego Carlos.

Cash tried scooping a protracted ball excessive to Watkins, however Varane tracked the flight of the ball effectively and headed away.

United countered as Fernandes performed Hojlund in behind, however he timed his run poorly and offside was given.

Villa have marginally had one of the best of it up to now.

Villa appeared troublesome there, first breaking down the left by means of Ramsey after which attempting their luck down the proper.

Matty Cash gave away a foul on the proper flank to finish what was an encouraging assault.

Manchester United, draped in white, get us underway, and inside eight seconds the ball is on the ft of Onana. Looks like a slow-patient construct from the Red Devils, however then Maguire takes a protracted punt ahead and loses the ball.

The gamers have emerged from Aston Villa’s remarkably spacious tunnel and meet the din of Villa Park, fireworks, chanting, blowing steam, all of it.

I heard there was some factor known as the Super Bowl scheduled for Las Vegas at present, however that is a lot better, proper?

The gamers are again inside now, however listed below are some pictures of their remaining warm-up preparations. Safe arms from Andre Onana!

Unai Emery and Erik ten Hag spoke to Sky Sports earlier than the sport.

Emery insisted his workforce should get in the proper mindset for eveyr match.

He mentioned: ‘The message is hold going. Try to be targeted, demanding, respectful of the opponent in everyting. Trying to play our greatest efficiency.’

‘We are attempting to be constant. You should face groups that compete for the highest 5, prime seven, prime 4.’

Meanwhile, Ten Hag’s stance was that it is a must-win sport for his or her prime 4 ambitions – however he was evasive over why he picked Varane above others.

He mentioned: ‘We should catch up. We know the place the place we’re – we acquired ourself on this place. Today has develop into a brand new step.

‘If we wish to be within the prime 4, we’ve got to win this sport.

‘There are extra gamers who can play left centre-half. What helps is Luke Shaw is again. Now we’ve got our choices we will look sport to sport.

‘Varane and Maguire, very sturdy, very expeirenced. We are fairly assured.’

Today’s journey to Villa Park is ‘one other remaining’, Erik ten Hag has claimed.

Don’t expect any trophies if you happen to win this one, Erik!

His sentiment is true, although. Nine video games separate United from the highest 4 – shedding to Villa at present would see that develop into an 11-point hole as they are going to overtake Spurs.

It’s a primary begin of 2024 within the Premier League for Jacob Ramsey.

A foot harm has majorly disrupted his marketing campaign and he solely managed to begin a league sport for the primary time this season in December.

Welcome again, Jacob. He’ll get a superb reception at present.

It’s full time over on the London Stadium, the place Arsenal have trounced West Ham 6-0. Of course Declan Rice needed to rating on his return.

Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo will likely be working the midfield at present for Manchester United.

Ahead of the conflict, Erik ten Hag has spoken of their blossoming relationship – and the way Mainoo, 18, is studying from the most effective midfielders of this technology.

This afternoon marks an important day. It will likely be Unai Emery’s a hundredth Premier League sport. He will likely be hoping to safe all three factors to make it a day to recollect.

The Spaniard inherited a facet languishing near the relegation zone slightly below 15 months in the past, however because it stands, they’re in sturdy rivalry to say a prime 4 end.

They have claimed 85 Premier League factors throughout 2023, greater than double their tally within the earlier calendar yr. So, it is going fairly effectively up to now!

My concern and evaluation of them is attempting to know their gameplan and to know their qualities, collectively and individually. We should attempt to cease them, beginning with the goalkeeper as a result of his construct up is unbelievable.

Their centre-backs prefer to play, build up and controlling ball possession, attempting to get good combos on the pitch. Luke Shaw could be very harmful and Diogo Dalot is in a superb second.

Casemiro is an important participant for them; they’ve excellent wingers and strikers and that’s my concern. The most essential factor for me, individually and collectively, as a coach is to arrange attempting to cease them.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Alex Moreno, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Bailey, Ramsey, McGinn, Watkins.

Subs: Tielemans, Digne, Torres, Diaby, Zaniolo, Olsen, Rogers, Kesler-Hayden, Iroegbunam.

Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund.

Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Amrabat, Eriksen, Diallo, Antony, Evans, McTominay, Forson.

Lisandro Martinez has been dominated out for an prolonged time period, whereas Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia are usually not match to return but.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a doubt for the sport and Anthony Martial stays sidelined.

Aston Villa’s Deadline Day signing Joe Gauci is out there for the squad after coming back from the Asia Cup. Meanwhile, Lucas Digne and Pau Torres are mentioned to be making good progress however Ezri Konsa and Jhon Duran stay out.

Well… it wasn’t Aston Villa night time. They fell to a 3-2 Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United having held at two-goal benefit on the break.

Ollie Watkins, with 11 objectives and 10 assists, is the primary participant to achieve double figures for each in any of Europe’s prime 5 leagues this season.

He’s additionally the primary Villa participant to realize this in a top-flight marketing campaign since Dwight Yorke in 1995-96. Not unhealthy, eh?

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has scored a objective on all three of his visits to Villa Park and has seven objectives in whole on this fixture residence and away.

Could Rasmus Hojlund be the key to Manchester United’s success going forwards? He has now scored in 5 of United’s final six video games in all competitions.

Villa have scored 49 Premier League objectives this marketing campaign, solely two wanting their whole final season. They will likely be seeking to surpass that tally this afternoon.

United’s win over West Ham has seen them put collectively a five-match unbeaten run. As a consequence, Erik ten Hag’s workforce have picked up 16 of their 38 factors on the street this season – successful 5, drawing one and shedding 5.

Manchester United needs to be feeling contemporary for this afternoon’s fixture. They have had a full week to arrange for the sport after a 3-0 victory in opposition to West Ham United final day out.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa want to bounce again struggling FA Cup disappointment in midweek. Chelsea progressed to spherical 5 with a 3-1 win in Wednesday’s replay, however Unai Emery is assured his males can stroll away with a consequence within the Premier League this afternoon.

Manchester United are in search of a fourth consecutive victory over Aston Villa in all competitions, having come again from 2-0 all the way down to win 3-2 in the newest assembly on Boxing Day.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s reside weblog for the most recent rating, workforce information and updates as Manchester United journey to Villa Park.

The Red Devils will likely be seeking to cut back the eight level deficit between themselves in sixth place and Aston Villa who sit on 46 factors in fourth.