Manchester United will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are currently ninth in the table on 17 points, while Villa sit 15th having collected 14 points from their opening 13 matches of the 2019-20 campaign.
Man United
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There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough start to the season for United, but it would be fair to say that the team have shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks.
Indeed, since holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League on October 20, Solskjaer's team have picked up seven points from their four matches, including victories over Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
It did appear that the team would suffer their fifth league defeat of the campaign when they went 2-0 down to Sheffield United last weekend, but the Red Devils ultimately claimed a point in a 3-3 draw.
Four wins and five draws from their 13 matches has brought them 17 points, leaving them down in ninth position. The 20-time English champions are only two points off fifth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers but sit nine behind fourth-placed Chelsea, showing the size of the task to secure a top-four spot.
The Europa League could provide a route into next season's Champions League, and the club have already qualified for the last-16 stage of the competition. Solskjaer selected an incredibly youthful side for the clash with Astana on Thursday night, and the English outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat.
The manager's focus has been on this match since the final whistle at Sheffield United last weekend, though, and a victory would lead them nicely into what is a huge game at home to Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur on December 4.
United will then travel to Manchester City on December 7, and Solskjaer might well find out a lot about his players over the next few weeks. Fifth certainly seems achievable this season, and the squad could be boosted by January signings, potentially in-form teenager Erling Braut Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg.
The team's tally of 17 points at this stage is their lowest since the 1988-89 season, though, and they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League games. The fans will be demanding a strong performance on Sunday afternoon, and it will be fascinating to see which United turn up at Old Trafford.
Recent form: LDWLWD
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWDL
Aston Villa
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Villa announced on Friday afternoon that head coach Dean Smith had signed a new four-year contract with the club. The 48-year-old has impressed since replacing Steve Bruce at the helm, and he will be looking to celebrate with a positive result at Old Trafford this weekend.
The team's form has been indifferent this season, but they recorded their fourth Premier League victory of the campaign at home to Newcastle United in the Monday Night Football.
A total of 14 points has left them in 15th position in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone. That said, they are only four points off sixth-placed Sheffield United, which is an indication of the type of league that it has been in the opening few months.
The 2-0 success over Newcastle was incredibly important considering that they had lost their three matches in the build-up against Manchester City, Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It is not as if the fixture list gets easier for Villa, though, as they will follow this weekend's trip to Old Trafford with back-to-back games against top-four hopefuls Chelsea and Leicester City.
Summer arrival Wesley has managed a respectable four Premier League strikes this season, but it has been more about the team with the likes of Anwar El Ghazi, John McGinn and Trezeguet amongst those to provide goals.
Jack Grealish, meanwhile, has scored twice and registered four assists in 11 Premier League appearances this season, and the Englishman will be keen to strut his stuff against United on Sunday afternoon.
Villa have only won one of their last 24 away Premier League matches, though, suffering 20 defeats in the process. What's more, they have lost 16 of their last 17 top-flight outings against established top-six opponents, which is not a run that will fill their fans with too much confidence.
The Villans have also only ever won three Premier League games against United, with their last success coming at Old Trafford back in 2009 when Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the only goal of the clash, heading a cross from now United captain Ashley Young into the back of the net.
Recent form: WWLLLW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWLLW
Team News
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Solskjaer will ring the changes from the Europa League clash on Thursday night, but the 20-time English champions still have a number of injury problems.
Unsettled midfielder Paul Pogba is not yet ready to return from an ankle problem, although the France international could potentially play a part against Tottenham next week.
Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Marcos Rojo are all still injured, but Solskjaer is hopeful that Scott McTominay will overcome an ankle issue to make the starting XI this weekend.
The 3-4-3 formation from last weekend is likely to be scrapped for a 4-2-3-1, with Brandon Williams expected to keep his position at left-back having scored his first senior goal against Sheffield United.
Andreas Pereira's form this season has been criticised, but the Brazilian is expected to keep his spot in the final third alongside Daniel James and Marcus Rashford, with Anthony Martial at the tip of the attack.
As for Villa, central defender Bjorn Engels is available having missed the last two matches with a hip problem, but versatile attacker Jota is unlikely to feature due to a hernia issue.
Keinan Davis is also still out with a hamstring problem, while number two goalkeeper Jed Steer will be absent until the early stages of 2020 with a calf complaint.
There are not expected to be many surprises in the away side's XI, meaning that Conor Hourihane should again join McGinn and Douglas Luiz in the middle of the park.
Grealish will be given licence to roam in support of Wesley and El Ghazi, with the likes of Trezeguet and Henri Lansbury providing attacking options from the bench.
Man United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; McTominay, Fred; James, Pereira, Rashford; Martial
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett; Hourihane, McGinn, Douglas Luiz; El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish
Head To Head
United lead the head-to-head record 98 wins to Villa's 49, while the Red Devils have triumphed in the last three Premier League meetings between the two teams, including a 1-0 success last time out in April 2016.
Villa did hold the Manchester giants to a 1-1 draw in December 2014, though, while as mentioned, their last victory against their opponents this weekend came in December 2009 at Old Trafford.
That 1-0 triumph is Villa's only win in their last 41 league meetings with United, however, suffering 30 defeats in the process. What's more, the Red Devils have been victorious in the last six meetings at Old Trafford with an aggregate score of 18-3.
We say: Man United 2-0 Aston Villa
The fact that Solskjaer rested almost all of his first-team players for Thursday's clash with Astana will stand the home side in good stead heading into this match. Villa are certainly capable of causing problems at Old Trafford, but we fancy the Red Devils to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters.
Matt Law
