Aston Villa looking to end 68-year streak against Manchester United

Aston Villa can end a 68-year streak when they square off against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Earlier in the season, it appeared that Villa may remain involved in a battle to avoid relegation, their results under Steven Gerrard leading to a change in direction.

Since the arrival of Unai Emery, however, Villa have emerged as one of the teams of the season, breaking club and divisional records under the Spaniard.

Ahead of the trip to Old Trafford, Villa have scored in 20 successive league fixtures with Emery as manager, a feat never achieved by a manager at the start of their reign at a Premier League club.

Villa have also posted five successive top-flight wins for the first time in 25 years, while five top-flight home victories in a row have been posted at Villa Park for the first time in over three decades.

As a result, Villa travel to the Theatre of Dreams on a 10-game unbeaten streak, a run which has moved the club into sixth position in the Premier League table.

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Trailing United by six points and having played two games more than their upcoming hosts, Villa's most realistic aim will be qualification for the Europa League.

Nevertheless, Emery and his players may start to dream bigger if they are able to record a win over Erik ten Hag's side this weekend.

Should that be achieved, Villa will register their first double over United since the 1954-55 campaign, a period spanning almost seven decades.

Villa are also bidding to prevail in successive away league matches at United for the first time since 1930, a consequence of their 1-0 triumph in last season's corresponding fixture.

However, Villa have already made the trip to Old Trafford this season, going down by a 4-2 scoreline when the teams met in the EFL Cup in November.

Meanwhile, United have put together a 14-match undefeated home streak in the Premier League, not losing on familiar territory since being bettered by Brighton & Hove Albion on the first weekend of the season.