Introduction
Afternoon everyone and welcome to today's showdown – in fact the sole fixture across the entire men's football pyramid.
On the shortest day of the year, the authorities have opted for the shortest programme possible. And the fixture they have picked is one that ended in a scoreless draw last season.
Still, it might prove very tasty this time around. Aston Villa have secured victory in nine consecutive matches in a row across every tournament.
Manchester United, now solely focused on league action, have won just twice in their past seven fixtures. When they face these opponents, though, United start to appear as the force they were in the past.
They have also made make Alex Ferguson’s successors look good: in 18 league games against United since 2013-14, Villa have won two, tied four times and been defeated on twelve occasions.
Today they will have momentum on their side. Along with a superior tactician. Emery secures victories in 55 per cent of his games with Villa; Amorim manages to win under forty percent of his with United.
The difference is clear in the way each has managed his club’s top young talent. Emery has transformed Morgan Rogers into a key player, Amorim tends to see Kobbie Mainoo as someone to be spurned or scorned.
The Red Devils were without Bryan Mbeumo and Amad today, due to the Afcon. Additionally, thanks to a reckless tackle the other night that resulted in a suspension (and a conceded free-kick goal), they will also be missing Casemiro.
Amorim appears to have a trio of choices for a stand-in, all of which are unappealing.
- (1) Utilize Mainoo, who – as Amorim himself acknowledged – performed admirably against Bournemouth, adding stability to a game that had become an office party.
- (2) Go back to Manuel Ugarte, who has a habit of being on the field when United collapse.
- (3) Snub both players by playing somebody out of position, such as Martinez, who is still returning to fitness after a nine-month injury.
A fourth option exists: ditch the third centre-back, play the two midfielders as a pair in the pivot, and let Fernandes return to his preferred position further forward.
This is the manager's maiden trip to this historic ground. Stats suggest he’s far more likely to lose than to win (57pc to 20).
But it often suits his team to be the less-favored side and they’ve been better on the road lately, with three wins and two draws since early autumn.
Villa’s flawless consistency has not brought dominance: their last seven wins have come by a one-goal margin.
And it’s Christmas, so expect the unexpected.
