Man United vs Aston Villa LIVE: Red Devils host shock title chasers

Well, that is not what the physician ordered for United. Villa have been good with out being particularly spectacular. The away aspect have managed to seize two targets from terrible United defending.

At the again, Emery’s aspect have not even been all that safe. United have managed to get in on a couple of ocassions however every time they’ve contrived to squander their openings.

McGinn obtained the primary from a freekick that was poorly defended earlier than Dendoncker profitted from a fair worse defensive construction.

This could also be probably the most necessary half-time staff talks of Ten Hag’s reign on the membership.

The discontent is threatening to spill over.

Ramsey goes into the guide

The midfielder brings down Garnacho as he ran by and threatened to drive an opportunity for the hosts.

United nonetheless have time to search out that route again into the sport.

Rashford goes shut once more

…But he actually ought to have handed. The ahead has been the aspect’s finest participant within the half and he took on Konsa earlier than letting off a strike together with his left foot within the field.

But Konsa had defended him effectively and Rashford ought to have appeared to search out his teammates within the field. As it turned out, the England worldwide’s strike went broad of the aim.

It’s not making for good viewing

The away aspect have simply began to get their foot on the ball towards after United’s flurry.

Konsa launched into a lung-bursting run into the ultimate third earlier than he exchanged passes with McGinn and left of a left-footed strike that was closed down.

It hasn’t made for good viewing

It hasn’t been the most effective begin to viewing at Old Trafford for Sir Dave Brailsford…

Another shot by Rashford

The strain is effectively and actually on with United pushing for a route again into the sport.

Rashford stings the gloves of Martinez for a second time however solely after Hojlund failed to regulate a cross that might have given him a golden likelihood to strike on aim.

The teenager appears devoid of confidence however Rashford has began the sport effectively.

Martinez saves from Rashford

United have been in once more, this time its Rashford with the trouble however Martinez was equal to it.

The ahead cracked a drive from the sting of the world after a go from Fernandes however the Villa stopper anticipated effectively to dive the fitting manner and maintain onto the ball.

Moments later, Hojlund was inches away from a Garnacho cross. It’s good things from the house aspect.

Bruno fires broad

Finally a response from the house aspect. Fernandes was unable to regulate a protracted ball that might have seen him with an opportunity on aim.

The United skipper flashed his shot broad of the mark however it’s a begin.

Oh it is a fair worse second! Lenglet was completely unmarked on the far put up from a nook and he headed it again to Dendoncker, who was in a position to flick the ball previous a stranded Onana.

Some boos may very well be heard in Old Trafford after the second. Two poor targets have seen Villa take a commanding lead.

It’s a poor aim to concede as McGinn’s freekick goes straight in previous Onana and into the aim.

Bailey prompted a little bit of havoc earlier than the supply got here in by standing subsequent to the United stopper however he vacated the world as McGinn’s cross evaded everybody and gave the away aspect an early lead.

Evans saves the day

Villa will likely be much more of a risk as the sport opens up. United have simply began to get pulled aside after launching assaults.

Evans has simply thwarted a harmful assault after United gave the ball away. The sport is on a knife edge – the primary aim will likely be important.

Ten Hag will likely be satisified with the beginning his staff have made to the sport.

They have not managed to craft any clear lower probabilities and Villa have threatened on a few ocassions however United look in significantly better form than they did towards West Ham early on.

There is extra blanace to their midfield with Eriksen returning to teh fray.

Eriksen has the primary shot of the sport

The Dane has the primary effort on aim within the sport however it was a snug one for Martinez within the Villa aim.

It all got here from a looping ball into the field that was headed away to the sting the place Eriksen stood earlier than firing in a shot.

Villa want to exploit the flanks on the break

Emery’s aspect have not been in a position to enact their gameplan simply but, however it’s clear to see what they’re attempting to do.

Villa have struggled on the street this season however tonight they may get some pleasure towards an opponent that’ll look to dictate the play.

The away aspect have been unable to get Bailey concerned, nevertheless he’s positive to fancy the match-up on the fitting wing towards Dalot.

United make a assured begin

Only a couple of minutes gone however United have loved the vast majority of the ball within the early exchanges. Villa appear content material to let their hosts have the ball and United have obliged by taking part in it amongst their defence and midfield.

United get the sport underway.

The gamers are out onto the Old Trafford turf. Kick-off is simply minutes away.

It’s an enormous night time for a number of United gamers however perhaps none extra so than Rashford, who makes his first begin for the membership because the starting of December.

The 26-year-old has managed simply two targets in 17 Premier League appearances this time period, with the final coming in a 3-0 win at Goodison Park in November.

In truth, United followers haven’t witnessed a league aim from the ahead at Old Trafford this season. You’ll have to return to the 3-1 victory towards Chelsea in May for the final time he scored in entrance of residence followers within the Premier League.

Rashford is because of begin tonight’s sport on the left, shifting Garnacho out to the fitting flank, with the pair supporting Hojlund – himself determined for targets.

The under-fire boss has spoken concerning the expertise he has introduced again into the staff for tonight’s conflict.

The Dutchman actually wants a constructive end result after the adjustments which have taken place within the boardroom this week.

Players are out onto the pitch going by their warm-ups forward of the 8pm kick-off. Can United mark the week’s excellent news with a very good post-Christmas end result for the followers?

Its throughout at Turf Moor as Liverpool seal a 2-0 win over Burnley to maneuver to the highest of the Premier League.

Emery’s aspect may be part of them on 42 factors forward of Arsenal’s conflict towards West Ham on Thursday.

Former Red Devils star Robin van Persie can be within the constructing to observe the ultimate sport at Old Trafford in 2023.

According to stories, INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford will likely be in attendance for tonight’s conflict.

The away aspect come into the sport 11 factors forward of Man United. Yes, you learn that accurately! These are two sides whose fortunes have been very totally different of late.

With Liverpool at the moment main at Turf Moor, the most effective Villa can hope for tonight is to maneuver into the Premier League’s high two.

But a late leveler by the Clarets and a win at Old Trafford may see Emery’s staff take high spot.

The timing of the completion of Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s £1.25billion deal to purchase 25 per cent of Manchester United was beautiful. I do not know if Britain’s second richest man has a God complicated however when it was Christmas Eve that introduced affirmation of his funding in England‘s most well-known soccer membership, it actually made it look that manner.

The saviour-symbolism was so apparent that the press launch may as effectively have been etched on a stained-glass window.

United want a saviour. No one is about to dispute that. Their season is lurching from one low to a different. One metric says that they’ve made their worst begin to a marketing campaign since 1930, they completed backside of their Champions League group and languish in eighth place within the Premier League, the place solely Sheffield United have scored fewer targets.

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• Man United and Villa are the 2 sides with essentially the most victories on Boxing Day in English Football League historical past
• The Red Devils are on a run of 4 video games and not using a aim
• The Villans have two wins within the final 14 years at Old Trafford, most just lately in a 1-0 win in 2021
• Unai Emery’s aspect come into the sport on a 10-match unbeaten run

It’s FOUR adjustments for Erik ten Hag from thier 2-0 defeat to West Ham. In come Eriksen, Varane, Rashford and Dalot for Kambwala, Shaw, McTominay and Antony.

Unai Emery brings Dendoncker and Carlos into his beginning XI rather than Cash and Diaby.

Here’s the United gamers arricing on the floor about an hour in the past. Everyone related to the membership is hoping for a cheerful night time within the wake of the current adjustments upstairs.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has written to Manchester United followers promising to do every part he can to take Manchester United again to the top of world soccer.

In it, Ratcliffe acknowledged INEOS’s function as ‘custodians of the club on your behalf’ and admitted it may take time to revive United’s fortunes after a decade of under-achievement.

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Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s protection of Man United’s conflict towards Aston Villa because the Red Devils host the in-form Villans on Boxing Day.

It is the primary sport of a brand new period, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group finishing their minority buy of the membership on Christmas Eve. United suffered their newest demolarising defeat – 2-0 towards West Ham – a day earlier and under-fire boss Erik ten Hag will likely be trying to make a very good impression with the brand new stakeholders.

As for Unai Emery’s aspect, they’re trying bounce again from a disappointing 1-1 residence draw towards Sheffield United final outing.

It guarantees to be a very good one in Manchester and we’ll have all of the information forward of the 8pm kick-off, after which updates from the motion from play will get underway!