Manchester United go in search of a fifth consecutive home win against an Aston Villa side also targeting Champions League qualification. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday’s match (14:00 GMT).
Fernandes on cusp of assist record
Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle last week was their first in the Premier League since losing to Villa before Christmas, and ended Michael Carrick’s unbeaten record as boss. But while Villa face a quick turnaround following their Europa League win on Thursday, United have had 10 days to digest the lessons from St James’ Park and prepare for this fixture.
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Carrick has won all five of his top-flight games as a manager at Old Trafford, including one as caretaker in 2021. Victory on Sunday would mean he joins an elite list of men to win each of their opening six matches as a Premier League boss, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Carlo Ancelotti and Manuel Pellegrini.
If Carrick is to add his name to that list then captain Bruno Fernandes will, as usual, have to play a key role. His goals and assists have already been worth a combined 23 points this season.
The 31-year-old, who created Casemiro’s goal against Newcastle last time out, has 14 Premier League assists this term. That is one short of the record by a United player in a campaign, set by David Beckham 26 years ago.
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[BBC]
Villa return to scene of painful defeat
Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification ended at Old Trafford on the final day of last season, with Unai Emery’s side controversially beaten 2-0.
Villa complained to referees’ body PGMOL after Morgan Rogers had an opening goal disallowed for kicking the ball out of Altay Bayindir’s hands. TV replays suggested the goalkeeper may not have been in control, but because referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle before Rogers scored, VAR was unable to review the decision.
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Villa’s chances of returning to the Champions League next season have been dented by inconsistent form since the turn of the year, with just two victories from their past nine top-flight matches. They have also lost back-to-back league games against Wolves and Chelsea, although they did beat Lille on Thursday – making them the only one of the Premier League’s nine European representatives to win this week. The result also brought up Emery’s 100th victory in charge.
John McGinn returned at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy after two months out injured but Villa remain without Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans. The Villans have not won a league game this season without at least one of those three key midfielders in their starting line-up.
[BBC]