Manchester United has been breaking records left, right, and centre this season under manager Erik Ten Hag, and this is the worst set of pre-Christmas results for 93 years. However, there was some festive cheer for United fans as the long protracted ownership of the club concluded on Christmas Eve when Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25% stake in the club.
We return to Old Trafford on Boxing Day as we take on prospective title contenders Aston Villa. The Red Devils enter the game after the toothless performance at the London Stadium where we lost 2-0 to West Ham. Our opponents’ winning home run of form came to an end on Friday evening when they drew 1-1 against Sheffield United.
For those fans that traveled and those watching at home, there was no joy for the Reds as Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus condemned United to their eighth league defeat of the season and their 13th across all competitions before December 25th for the first time since the 1930-31 season.
At that time, United was relegated from the top division and whilst the situation now is not quite as dire we currently sit eighth in the table. We haven’t scored in our last four games for the first time since 1992. If we were unable to score on Boxing Day, it would be the first time without a goal in five games which happened 42 years ago.
Since the victory at home to Chelsea on December 6th, the Reds have lost to Bournemouth, Bayern Munich and West Ham. We did hold Liverpool to a goalless draw in that time. Between August 2022 and August 2023, United went without a Premier League defeat at Old Trafford but we have been beaten in four of the seven games in this campaign at home.
It will be the 197th time that these two teams face each other with United having a good record having won 104 of the past encounters, to Villa’s 51 (including 41 draws). In the corresponding fixture last season, Bruno Fernandes scored the only goal of the game to seal the win.
Manchester United Team News
With a sickness bug going through the United squad saw Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial miss the West Ham game while Rasmus Hojlund was only able to complete 57 minutes of the 2-0 defeat at the London Stadium. Varane’s place in the team was filled by the debut of 19-year-old Willy Kambwala. Christian Eriksen who has returned from his knee injury got some minutes in the second half.
Diogo Dalot will return from suspension, however, the treatment room is now overflowing with injured players. Amad Diallo (knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot), Mason Mount (calf), Harry Maguire (groin), Victor Lindelof (unspecified), Casemiro (thigh) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are out of contention. Jadon Sancho is still not under consideration for a return to the first team by Ten Hag.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup
Onana;
Dalot, Evans, Varane, Shaw;
McTominay, Eriksen; Fernandes;
Antony, Garnacho and Hojlund.
Opposition Preview
Like United, Aston Villa has a good record of wins on Boxing Day with 46 to their name and had been favourites to win against Sheffield United on Friday evening, which would had been their 16th consecutive Premier League home victory in a row. They were undone by their former player Cameron Archer who scored in the 87th minute that looked to seal victory for the Blades.
Seven minutes into injury time Nicolo Zaniolo’s header rescued a point for Villa. With Liverpool and Arsenal sharing the points on Saturday evening, Villa could have spent Christmas Day at the top of the table for the first time since 1998 had they won. Emery’s side currently lie third on the same points as the Merseysiders.
With Zaniolo’s late goal, it stretched Villa’s unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. In this run, they have scored at least two goals in their last three league away games. Their only clean sheet away from home this season came back in September with a 1-0 victory at Chelsea.
Aston Villa Team News
Matty Cash will miss the clash at Old Trafford after picking his fifth yellow card of the season against Sheffield United. He will be joined by Boubacar Kamara in being absent. Pau Torres is a doubt due to a knock and this could see Unai Emery switch Ezri Konsa to right back with Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet in the centre of the defence.
Emiliano Buendia (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Bertrand Traore (muscle), Youri Tielemans (calf), and Robin Olsen (knock) are on the injured list and not expected to return until the New Year.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: WLWLDL
Manchester United (all competitions): LWLLDL
Aston Villa Premier League form: WDWWWD
Aston Villa form (all competitions): DWWDWD
Prediction
It is not since the 1978-79 season that United has lost a fixture on Boxing Day but records have been tumbling this season. The Red Devils need to get beyond the issues they are having and build a run of consistent form to get themselves up the table. Aston Villa has shown they will prove a threat in attack and are resolute in their defending. This game could see both teams cancelling each other out.
Manchester United 1-1 Aston Villa
