Following a dramatic last-gasp win over Wolves on Tuesday, plus leaders Liverpool’s subsequent draw with Newcastle, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United have the prospect to tug degree on factors with their rivals on the top-flight summit tonight.
Nonetheless, they’re more likely to face a stern take a look at in opposition to in-form Aston Villa, who’re solely 4 factors additional again after climbing to fifth courtesy of a battling draw at Chelsea on Monday secured by a fifth aim in as many video games from Anwar El Ghazi.
Dean Smith’s vastly improved workforce have misplaced simply one in every of their final 9 Premier League away fixtures, whereas they went unbeaten all through a busy December schedule.
Man United XI: De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Maguire, Bailly, Shaw, Fred, Pogba, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Money, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi, Watkins
With kick-off scheduled for 8pm GMT, comply with all of the build-up and dwell match motion with Customary Sport’s weblog beneath.
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Dwell updates
76 minutes: Grealish loses out to Fernandes, whose fantastic dipping effort is tipped onto the crossbar by Martinez.
United maintain the stress and Konsa heads away, just for Rashford to whistle over a cracking strike from an analogous place to his colleague.
75 minutes: Konsa turns Shaw’s low cross behind after Villa are carved open by a Fernandes move into that left channel.
Traore and Money are struggling defensively down the guests’ proper flank.
75 minutes: Shaw provides Grealish an excessive amount of room to cross for Watkins, who will get in entrance of Bailly however can solely look a troublesome header huge.
73 minutes: An excellent likelihood for United to open up a two-goal lead is spurned as Pogba sidefoots Shaw’s in the reduction of agonisingly huge.
72 minutes: Martial forces a robust cease from Martinez as United press for a 3rd aim that may absolutely kill off this sport.
Martinez then rushes out of his space once more to intercept, with De Gea additionally having to be on his toes on the different finish.
70 minutes: United centre-halves Maguire and Bailly are each on yellow playing cards right here and must be very cautious throughout the closing 20 minutes.
66 minutes: You may’t take your eyes off this for a second as Rashford is denied by Martinez and Wan-Bissaka makes an important last-ditch intervention to cease El Ghazi heading in Grealish’s luxurious cross on the again publish.
Solskjaer has despatched on Nemanja Matic rather than McTominay.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa | Bruno Fernandes (pen) 62’
62 minutes: Martinez guesses the precise approach, however had no hope of reaching that highly effective effort from spot-kick knowledgeable Fernandes into the underside nook.
His fifteenth aim of the season shortly restores United’s lead.
Penalty to Manchester United
Douglas Luiz brings down Pogba shortly after Villa’s equaliser and referee Michael Oliver factors to the spot!
VAR will take a look, however this gained’t be overturned…
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Aston Villa | Bertrand Traore 58’
58 minutes: Villa degree shortly earlier than the hour mark. It had been coming!
It’s desperately poor from Wan-Bissaka, who twice tries to stop Villa from taking a fast free-kick however fails and leaves oceans of house for Grealish to function.
The Villa captain steps inside McTominay and produces a low cross that’s virtually turned in by Douglas Luiz earlier than former Chelsea midfielder Traore finishes on the again publish.