Manchester United vs Aston Villa Predictions

• United still have big absences in defence and blew a 2-0 lead on Thursday
• Villa have scored in 20 successive Premier League games
• The visitors have won six of their last seven matches
• Rashford has scored 12 times in 15 home league games this season

Top four nerves for United

With a six-point cushion over fifth and two games in hand, United shouldn’t be too worried about their place in next season’s Champions League. However, a run of one win in five could give way to a late-season collapse, unless the Red Devils turn things around.

The hosts head into this game with issues in their defence, with their first-choice central defenders ruled out. Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw are United’s makeshift central-defensive pairing, with Erik ten Hag stuck without any other option despite their collapse against Tottenham in midweek.

Now United meet an in-form Villa side who have closed to within six points of an unlikely Champions League finish. Unai Emery’s side are flying at the minute and the Spaniard has a track record of causing problems for the Red Devils.

Villa on European trail

With 20 points from their last eight games, Villa have stormed into the European mix. They’ve now scored in 20 successive games under Emery, a record they should extend considering United’s defensive issues.

The visitors have overperformed in terms of Expected Goals, but Emery is also maximising the talent at his disposal. Ollie Watkins has been transformed under his watch, but Villa have been scoring without relying on him in their last couple of games.

However, the away side will need to find a way of keeping Marcus Rashford quiet. The forward has scored 19 home goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season – the most since Wayne Rooney in 2009-10. He’s scored 12 times in 15 home league games and he’s a great anytime scorer bet in this clash.

Villa’s scoring streak to continue

United’s defensive issues should be ripe for Emery to expose, but United have scored in 87% of their home games and they should prove hard to stop. Given the scoring form of the pair, look to both teams to score as the best bet in this one.

United have lost two of their last three Premier League games against Aston Villa and they could be vulnerable here given their defensive issues. Emery has won two and drawn two of his four Premier League meetings with United, also beating them in the 2021 Europa League final. With the visitors winning six of their last seven games, back them to claim a 2-1 win.

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