Manchester United vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Manchester United have failed to score in their last four matches
• The Red Devils have lost six of seven clashes with the top nine in the league this season
• The hosts have been beaten in six of their last 10 at Old Trafford
• Villa have won 12 of 18 league games this term

Both sides need to bounce back

Manchester United meet Aston Villa on Boxing Day with the pair each in need of a result. Villa had the chance to move top of the Premier League on Friday night, but they toiled against Sheffield United and came away with a 1-1 draw. The following day, Manchester United slipped to eighth in the Premier League after a 2-0 loss at West Ham.

The Red Devils are under enormous pressure heading into 2024, with their Champions League prospects looking bleak. They are 11 points behind Aston Villa going into this Boxing Day encounter, which is an incredible turnaround in little over a year for Villa.

Can Red Devils find the net?

Saturday wasn’t just another defeat for United, it marked the fourth consecutive game in which they’ve failed to score. That’s an awful stretch for a United side who have invested heavily, but there’s little sign of their big spending when you look at their current forward line.

United were listless against the Hammers and the concern is that they’re not creating chances. They’ve outperformed their opponents’ xG in just one of their last six league games, which came against a dire Chelsea side. The Red Devils rank 10th in the league for total xG this term, while only Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United have a higher Expected Goals Against tally.

That points to United being poor overall, which is clear in their results. They’ve lost eight of 18 league games, while they’ve suffered six defeats across their last 10 at Old Trafford.

United to fall short

Much has been made of United recently topping the form table, only to fall away. However, it’s clear that it was kind fixtures which aided their form. In the league this term, United have won nine of 11 matches against sides from 10th and below, taking just one point from their seven clashes with the top nine.

Their early Champions League exit and a 3-0 EFL Cup thrashing to Newcastle only further the idea that United aren’t up to matching good teams. Villa certainly fall into that category, as they head into this unbeaten in 10, winning seven. The visitors have won 12 of 18 league games this term and they can add to that with a victory at Old Trafford.

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