Aston Villa v Man Utd predictions: Away specialists United to prevail

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Aston Villa v Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 2.05pm Sunday

Best bet

Man Utd
1pt 5-6 Betfair, Betfred

Team news

Aston Villa
Jack Grealish (shin) and Morgan Sanson (knee) are unavailable.

Manchester United
Dan James is a doubt while Phil Jones and Anthony Martial remain sidelined.

Match preview

Manchester United have the big business of a Europa League final against Villarreal to look forward to on May 26 but they have a few loose ends to tie up in the Premier League and can edge closer to a top-two finish with a win at Villa Park.

The sooner United can rubber-stamp second place the sooner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can think about ensuring a proper preparation for their season-defining clash in Gdansk.

Solskjaer admits there will be a need for extensive squad rotation next week, when the Red Devils host Leicester on Tuesday and Liverpool on Thursday, but his weekend selection looks more straightforward unless players are suffering from minor injuries or fatigue.

The Norwegian made just three changes to his starting 11 for the Europa League fixture at Roma even though his team held a 6-2 first-leg advantage, yet there were a few wobbly moments as the spirited hosts ran out 3-2 winners.

Edinson Cavani's fierce 39th-minute strike was enough for United to lead 1-0 at the break but Solksjaer's decision to make a double half-time substitution – withdrawing first-choice full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw for Alex Telles and Brandon Williams – almost backfired spectacularly when Roma scored twice in 15 second-half minutes and threatened to add a few more.

Sanity was restored by Cavani's second goal of the game but United's poor second-half showing – with the exception of the outstanding David De Gea - will have given Solskjaer food for thought and could make him think carefully about when he hands further minutes to fringe players.

Most of United's big-hitters could be present at Villa Park and that is bad news for the hosts, who are hoping to cap off a much-improved campaign with a top-half finish.

There were moments earlier in the season when Villa fans were dreaming about European qualification but those hopes faded with a shin injury to Jack Grealish, who has been absent since February and is unable to feature this weekend.

Villa have been showing signs of adapting to Grealish's absence and picked up a welcome 2-1 victory at Everton last Sunday thanks to Anwar El Ghazi's 80th-minute goal.

However, they have been struggling at Villa Park – winning just one of their last six home games – and are unlikely to trouble the division's awayday specialists, who have not lost on their Premier League travels since a 2-0 reverse at Liverpool in January 2020.

Key stat

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 25 Premier League away games.

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