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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst & Richard Fay & Steven Railston

How Manchester United should line up vs Aston Villa in Premier League fixture

Manchester United take on Aston Villa at Villa Park in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

United defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 in the final Europa League group match on Thursday thanks to Alejandro Garnacho's goal but that wasn't enough to win Group E, with the Spaniards claiming the top spot through a superior goal difference.

Erik ten Hag's attention now returns to the Premier League and United's match against Aston Villa this weekend.

ALSO READ: Donny van de Beek has blown his best chance yet at Manchester United

Aston Villa sacked Steven Gerrard at the end of last month and Unai Emery, who managed Villarreal when defeating United in the 2020/21 Europa League final in Gdansk, has since been appointed and this will be his game in charge of the club.

Regarding team news, United could still be without Jadon Sancho, Antony and Anthony Martial, while Bruno Fernandes is suspended.

This is how our MEN writers think United should line up.

Samuel Luckhurst

Victor Lindelof was secure enough and is developing a good understanding with Lisandro Martinez to keep his place. The rest of the back four has to remain unchanged and Christian Eriksen and Casemiro do, too.

Donny van de Beek cannot start and this is an opportunity for United to start possibly their most balanced midfield, with Fred next to Casemiro and Eriksen behind the frontman.

All it takes is injury to Antony to compromise United’s balance up front, given the surfeit of left-sided wingers they have. Alejandro Garnacho deserves to start, even if it means shoehorning him in on the right-hand side.

Rich Fay

It's difficult to predict the team accurately when there are so many late fitness tests to worry about, but thankfully none of those come on the defensive side of things. Dalot and Shaw are the leading choices at full-back, while Lindelof is better suited to partnering Martinez at centre-back.

The first dilemma comes in midfield with Fernandes suspended. Ten Hag can either push Eriksen into the No.10 role and add Fred or McTominay behind, or he can put his trust in Van de Beek and give him the regular playing time he craves.

The Dutch midfielder hardly deserves to keep his place on the back of his showing against Sociedad, though he does deserve the benefit of the doubt given how little he has played over the last year.

Up front, the fitness tests will dictate the line up. Rashford should start and it would be nice to see Antony back involved again on the right. Ronaldo is the only logical striking option if Martial still isn't back.

Steven Railston

Lindelof and Martinez resumed their partnership against Real Sociedad on Thursday and they should start again here. Maguire made a late appearance from the bench to play up front in that match and he shouldn't be needed in that position today.

Fernandes is suspended, which means Fred can start alongside his Brazil teammate Casemiro, with Eriksen in the advanced role. Van de Beek was completely anonymous in San Sebastian and it would be bizarre if he started again at Villa Park.

If Antony is fit, he should start and Martial should be ready for this match, given he returned to full training earlier this week. A front three of Antony, Martial and Rashford is dynamic and that would be disrupted by the presence of Ronaldo.

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