Manchester United v Aston Villa: Confirmed line-ups as McGinn starts

Manchester United welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon in a fixture that could have significant implications for the race for European places.

The Red Devils will be looking to bounce back and maintain their push for a top-four finish. Michael Carrick’s side know that consistency will be key as they navigate a packed fixture schedule in the closing months of the season.

Aston Villa arrive in Manchester in fine form under Unai Emery. The Villans have established themselves as genuine contenders for European qualification this season and will be confident of getting a result at the Theatre of Dreams.

It’s third v fourth – here’s how they line up.

Manchester United team news

Mason Mount is fit enough to be among the substitutes for Carrick’s side. Kobbie Mainoo keeps his place in midfield and Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha line up in attack.

Ther are two changes from the team which faced Newcastle. Diogo Dalot and Amad Diallo come in today for Benjamin Šeško and Noussair Mazraoui.

Manchester United XI: Senne Lammens, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo

Aston Villa team news

Ross Barkley starts in midfield and John McGinn is fit to skipper the side as Villa’s midfield woes start to come to an end. England pair Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers lead the attack.

There are four changes from the last Premier League match, with Lamine Bogarde and Lucas Digne joining barkley and McGinn in starting. Matty Cash is injured.

Aston Villa have won just three of their last 11 Premier League games.

Aston Villa XI: Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Lamare Bogarde, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendía, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins

Where to watch Manchester United v Aston Villa: TV and online streams

Manchester United v Aston Villa kicks off at 2pm UK time. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, and will be available to stream via Sky Go. NOW TV subscribers can also stream the match.

The stats

• United have lost just two of their last 37 home league games against Villa (W28 D7), going down 1-0 both times in December 2009 and September 2021.
• Following their 2-1 win in December, Villa are looking to complete the league double over United for the first time since 1954-55.
• United have kept 30 clean sheets against Villa in the Premier League – only Arsenal have kept more against a single opponent in the competition (31 vs Newcastle).
• United have scored in their last 17 Premier League games, since losing 1-0 to Everton in November. They last had a longer scoring streak between November 2012 and April 2013 under Alex Ferguson (23).
• Villa have won just three of their last 11 Premier League games (D3 L5); since the first game in this run (1-4 defeat to Arsenal on Dec 30th), only four sides have accrued fewer points than Unai Emery’s side (12) in the competition.
• Carrick has won all five of his Premier League home games as United manager (1 in 2021, 4 in 2026); only three managers have won each of their first six home matches in the competition: Sven-Göran Eriksson (first 9 in 2007), Carlo Ancelotti (first 7 in 2009), and Manuel Pellegrini (first 11 in 2013-14).
• Bruno Fernandes’ goals and assists have been worth 23 points to United this season. In Premier League history, only three players’ goal involvements have been worth more to the Red Devils in a campaign – Robin van Persie in 2012-13 (38), Eric Cantona in 1993-94 (26) and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007-08 (25).