One of the marquee matchups of Premier League’s 7th round will take place on Sunday in Birmingham, where Aston Villa will host Manchester United at Villa Park. Here's a preview and prediction for the match from the Dailysports expert team.
Aston Villa
The "Lions" continue to prove that last season's success in the Premier League was no fluke. Under Unai Emery’s leadership, the team is comfortably sitting in the top five of the standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by just two points. Their only defeat in the first six rounds came against Arsenal, underscoring the squad's consistency.
In the Champions League, Villa has also started strong: they demolished Young Boys 3-0 and followed that with a sensational 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. This loss ended Bayern’s 41-match unbeaten run in the Champions League group stage. Fittingly, the last team to defeat Bayern in the group stage was also managed by Emery when he was at PSG in 2017.
Manchester United
The "Red Devils" continue to struggle for consistency, showing patchy form for the third consecutive season. It appears that the club's long-standing trust in Erik ten Hag may be running thin. Rumors suggest that the Dutchman’s future could hinge on the upcoming matches against Porto and Aston Villa. The recent 3-3 Europa League draw with Porto hasn’t inspired confidence, making this Premier League clash pivotal for Ten Hag’s tenure.
Despite heavy spending in the transfer market, Manchester United has yet to meet expectations. After six rounds, they sit in 13th place, just four points above the relegation zone. Victories over Fulham (1-0) and Southampton (3-0) haven’t convinced the fans or the board.
Match Facts
- Both teams have scored in 4 of their last 5 matches.
- The "Total Over 2.5" bet has hit in 4 of the last 5 games.
- Aston Villa is unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions, winning six of them.
Head-to-Head
Last season, Manchester United defeated Aston Villa twice — 3-2 at Old Trafford and 2-1 at Villa Park.
Likely Lineups
- Aston Villa: Martínez, Digne, Torres, Carlos, Konsa, Tielemans, Onana, Maatsen, Durán, Rodgers, Watkins.
- Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot, Eriksen, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee.
Prediction
The "Lions" appear far more cohesive this season and are expected to take all three points in this match. Our recommended bet: "Aston Villa to win with a handicap (0)" at odds of 1.66.