Aston Villa vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League score and goal updates as Raphael Varane starts for visitors

And we’re underway right here at Villa Park as United kick off.

Just over 5 minutes to go till kick-off and the ambiance is constructing properly inside Villa Park – what has this conflict obtained in retailer for us right this moment?

Erik ten Hag’s facet kicked off their February in type with a dramatic 4-3 win over Wolves adopted up by a convincing 3-0 win towards West Ham.

In truth, United are unbeaten of their final 24 Premier League matches in February (W15 D9) since dropping 1-0 to Newcastle United in 2018 underneath Jose Mourinho.

Can they maintain that run going right this moment?

Emery’s first sport in cost final season was this actual fixture, with the Spaniard inspiring his workforce to an outstanding 3-1 victory towards United to finish a 23-game winless run within the Premier League towards the Red Devils at Villa Park.

A win right here right this moment would make it consecutive dwelling league video games towards United for the primary time since between 1966 and 1977 after they gained 5 in a row.

It was a Boxing Day traditional the final time these two sides met as Man United got here from behind to beat Villa 3-2 at dwelling. Rasmus Hojlund netted his first Premier League goal to finish the turnaround and has been in effective kind since that day.

Can the younger Dane notch up one other right this moment?

The Spaniard will probably be trying for a response from his gamers after two defeats of their final three video games however he’s additionally eager to see the followers play their half in serving to his workforce get a significant win towards top-four rivals.

“It is a new challenge, a new challenge for us and for our supporters. We all have to use our positive energy – each individual fan has to support us with their energy,” he mentioned forward of the match.

“We have to attach with them being demanding and profitable, being demanding on the pitch.

“It goes to be a tough match as a result of they should get factors towards us. They are going through us making an attempt to get to us within the desk, being nearer to us.

“We are pondering in fact there may be 38 matches, however this match is for six factors. This is a particular, key match. We need to create an amazing ambiance with our supporters.”

Unai Emery has earned large plaudits for the work he has finished to raise Villa right into a workforce difficult for the Champions League and United will virtually actually have to overhaul them if they’re to complete within the high 4.

Ten Hag is an admirer of Emery, saying at his pre-match press convention: “I feel it is rather good how he developed this workforce and it’s very clear how they need to play, in and out of possession.

“I feel the gamers know precisely what they need to do, their jobs and how they need to cooperate with one another. They are actually a workforce, they completely have weapons of their workforce, so now we have to play our most ranges to get the fitting consequence.”

Ollie Watkins has focused Aston Villa’s Premier League targets file after passing his half-century.

The striker grew to become simply the third Villa participant to achieve 50 targets within the Premier League after scoring towards Newcastle final month.

Only Dwight Yorke (60) and Gabby Agbonlahor (74) have scored extra for Villa and – forward of Sunday’s go to of Manchester United – Watkins, with 59 targets general, needs to chase them down.

“When I signed my new contract, that was one of my main goals – to break that, to win something with the club, to push on and try to achieve something,” mentioned the England striker, who has 51 top-flight targets after scoring within the 5-0 win at Sheffield United final week.

“I really feel like I’m enhancing as a participant underneath this supervisor and with this workforce.

Read extra of the Englishman’s ideas under:

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Lenglet, Carlos, Moreno; Luiz, Kamara, McGinn; Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins

Man Utd XI: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

We’re anticipating workforce information any minute now – are we in for any surprises?