Manchester United continue their push for the Premier League top four when they welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Villa represent one of United's closest challengers for Champions League qualification, with six points separating the sides going into the weekend.
Match preview
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An up-and-down few weeks for Manchester United continued on Thursday, when Erik ten Hag's side threw away a two-goal lead to draw away at Tottenham Hotspur.
A wonderful first-half performance saw the Red Devils lead 2-0 at the break, but for the second time this month, United failed to win from that commanding position.
The debacle that was their Europa League tie with Sevilla saw them eventually lose 5-2 on aggregate after leading 2-0 in the first leg.
That disappointment was put behind them when they sealed a spot in the FA Cup final by beating Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties in their semi-final showdown last Sunday.
Returning to Old Trafford should give them a lift as well, considering they are on the longest current unbeaten home run out of all top-flight sides.
United have not been beaten in 25 matches at home, dating back to September's Europa League defeat to Real Sociedad, and they have conceded just eight goals during that spectacular run.
Villa will more than likely make it difficult though, as United have failed to win any of the last three Premier League meetings between the sides.
In addition to that, Villa are unbeaten in their last 10 matches, taking an impressive 26 points over that period.
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Emery has set a record of being the first manager to oversee his side score in all of their first 20 Premier League games in charge.
His first game at the helm saw his Villa side comfortably dispatch of United 3-1 back in November, meaning they have the chance to complete a first double over the Red Devils in 68 years.
Emery has never lost a Premier League game against United, having come up against them four times, and the Spaniard also got the better of them as Villarreal manager in the 2021 Europa League final.
Even though they have played two games more than their next opponents, Villa can move to within three points of United and a spot in the top four with victory here.
They won 1-0 in this fixture last season, with a late missed penalty by Bruno Fernandes proving costly, but that is Villa's only win in their last 11 trips to Old Trafford.
Not since the inter-war period have Aston Villa won back-to-back league games at Old Trafford, but they could not be better prepared to do so.
Team News
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Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire will face late fitness tests to see whether they will be available for selection for Man United here.
There are further glaring issues in defence for Ten Hag to deal with, as Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane's Premier League campaigns are over, but the latter is expected to be back in time for the FA Cup final.
Alejandro Garnacho is closing in on a return for United, but this one may come too soon for him, while Donny van de Beek is out for the season.
Matty Cash (calf) and Philippe Coutinho (thigh) are both edging towards returns for Aston Villa, but the duo may be out for another week at least.
Boubacar Kamara remains on the sidelines with an ankle problem, while Leon Bailey is also out with a hamstring injury.
After scoring in six straight away games for Villa, Ollie Watkins was kept at bay by Brentford in their previous fixture on the road, but he did score in an EFL Cup tie here earlier this season.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Rashford, Sancho
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Alex Moreno; Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins
We say: Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa
Man United's formidable home record will be put to the test by an in-form Villa side, but after going three games without victory in regulation time, Ten Hag's men will expect to end that run here.
Emery will take his Villa side to Old Trafford full of confidence, and claiming a result is not beyond them, but it will be difficult given United's form at home.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
