A highly anticipated Premier League clash is set to unfold this Sunday as high-flying Aston Villa host Manchester United at Villa Park. This crucial game holds significant implications for both sides, with Villa looking to solidify their standing near the top and United aiming for a much-needed resurgence and a push into the Champions League spots. The fixture is deemed a must-win for the visitors.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa enters the match in formidable form, having secured 10 victories in their last 11 league games and an impressive nine consecutive wins across all competitions. Their home ground, Villa Park, has become a veritable fortress, with the team unbeaten in their last nine straight home games. This exceptional run has propelled them to third place in the league, just three points behind leaders Arsenal, positioning them as strong contenders for the EPL title as the new year approaches.

However, discussions surrounding Aston Villa's genuine title credentials highlight some underlying statistics. ESPN's Sam Tighe pointed out that Villa are significantly overperforming their expected goals (xG) stats, with the Premier League xG table placing them in 16th. Additionally, eight of their last ten wins have been by a single goal margin. While Villa has skillfully managed their Europa League commitments alongside Premier League action, sustaining this intensity long-term is considered challenging compared to deeper squads like Arsenal and Manchester City. Despite these analytical caveats, stranger things have occurred in football, and Villa remains primed to capitalize should the top two falter.

Key to Aston Villa's incredible run has been the return to form of midfielder Morgan Rogers. After a slow start to the season, possibly due to a preseason ankle injury, Rogers has rediscovered his drive and energy, proving lethal in attack with five league goals and three assists. His recent heroics include a two-goal performance, featuring a stunning long-range winner, in a remarkable comeback against West Ham United. Manchester United's defense, which offered considerable space in midfield against Bournemouth, could face severe difficulties if they repeat this vulnerability against Villa's solid midfield, where Rogers operates in an advanced role.

Conversely, Manchester United faces a challenging test, reeling from a wild 4-4 draw against Bournemouth and grappling with significant player absences. Placed sixth in the table, Erik ten Hag's side has shown attacking prowess but continues to struggle defensively, indicating a substantial amount of work needed to maintain momentum. The Red Devils will be without several important starters due to a combination of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) commitments, suspensions, and injuries.

Specifically, Manchester United will miss Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui due to AFCON duties. Casemiro is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards, while Harry Maguire is recovering from a hamstring injury, and Matthijs de Ligt is a doubt with a back issue. Jadon Sancho will also be ineligible to face his parent club. The absence of key attacking players like Diallo (a top scorer with six strikes) and Mbeumo puts immense pressure on Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha to shoulder the attacking burden. In midfield, Casemiro's absence is a major concern, potentially opening up opportunities for Manuel Ugarte as a direct replacement. The situation could also provide extended minutes for young talents like Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee (who has a good chance to start), and Benjamin Sesko (just back from injury, may not start). Manager Erik ten Hag will need to make crucial decisions, including whether to deploy Fernandes as one of two No. 10s or keep him as a No. 8, potentially allowing Mainoo to play in his preferred position behind the 10s. Regardless of personnel, United must avoid repeating the midfield errors made against Bournemouth.

Club captain Bruno Fernandes also made headlines recently with comments to Canal 11, a Portuguese Football Federation media outlet, expressing hurt over the club's readiness to offload him in the summer. He further compared his loyalty to that of Francesco Totti at Roma. While manager Erik ten Hag played down the impact of these comments, praising Fernandes' leadership, there's no doubt he remains the team's best player, and his potential departure would have significantly worsened Manchester United's situation.

Historically, Manchester United holds a strong record against Aston Villa, having won 6 of their last 10 encounters (3 draws, 1 loss) and holding the record for the most wins against Villa in history. However, recent form strongly favors the home side, especially considering United's extensive list of absentees.

Key match details include: Date: Sunday, December 21st, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. GMT (1:30 p.m. ET; 10 p.m. IST and 2:30 a.m. AEST, Monday). Venue: Villa Park. Referee: Michael Oliver. VAR: Peter Bankes. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, NBC in the U.S., JioHotstar in India, and Stan Sport in Australia, with live updates available on ESPN.

Regarding team news for Aston Villa, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are out with injury, Ross Barkley is sidelined with a knee issue, and Emiliano Martinez is a concern due to a back problem, with Marco Bizot potentially stepping in. For Manchester United, in addition to the AFCON absences, suspension, and existing injuries, Benjamin Sesko is back from injury.

Probable lineups for the match are as follows: Aston Villa (4-5-1): Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins. Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Dalot, Mainoo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Sesko.

Considering Aston Villa's current form and Manchester United's significant player absences, the home team holds a distinct advantage. The prediction leans towards an Aston Villa victory with a score of 2-1. Betting tips suggest favoring Aston Villa to win or draw, with expectations of over 2.5 goals and over 7.5 corners.