By OkayGoal
Matty Cash is banned and Aaron Wan-Bissaka needs a late fitness test, so Unai Emery has a right-back problem to solve before Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford.
Aston Villa visit Manchester United on Sunday 8 November (4.30pm UK time) for their last game before the international break. They are 10th, unbeaten in five league games, and have won both of their away games in that run, at Tottenham and Newcastle. Midweek was harder, a 3-0 defeat at Barcelona that ended their perfect Champions League start.
Old Trafford has never been kind to Emery. “Four years I am here, travelling to Manchester to play against them, we have lost,” he said on Friday. Michael Carrick’s side are 17th with one league win from nine, but they came from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2 on Tuesday.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Man United
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Man United (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Lindelöf, Torres, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Goretzka; McGinn, Manzambi, Buendía; Jackson
Zion Suzuki: no change in goal
Suzuki had no chance with any of Barcelona’s three goals and he picked up Premier League Save of the Month recognition this week. He starts.
Victor Lindelöf: moving across to cover Cash
Cash picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-1 draw with Fulham and serves a one-match ban. Wan-Bissaka has missed the last five games with a hamstring problem, and Emery was careful on Friday: “Aaron is close and tomorrow we’ll see if he’s training normally and feeling good.”
A player who has not played since mid-October is a big risk from the start at Old Trafford, so we think Emery moves Lindelöf to right-back and keeps Wan-Bissaka for the bench if he comes through Saturday’s session.
Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings: a new pairing in the middle
Torres made a brilliant last-ditch tackle on Raphinha at Camp Nou, and he was unlucky when the Brazilian’s shot clipped his heel for the second goal. With Lindelöf needed out wide, Mings, an unused substitute in Spain, comes in beside him.
Ian Maatsen: the only fit left-back
Matteo Ruggeri is still working on his own, so the left side belongs to Maatsen. He was booked early against Lamine Yamal but handled the teenager well after that.
Boubacar Kamara and Leon Goretzka: one change in midfield
João Gomes gave the ball away for Barcelona’s opener, and we expect him to drop out. Goretzka came off the bench and nearly scored, his glancing header clipping the post, and he gets the nod alongside Kamara. Amadou Onana is still a long way from a return.
John McGinn: the captain stays
McGinn was taken off after 77 minutes in Spain, which keeps him fresh enough for Sunday. Villa’s skipper starts on the right of the three.
Johan Manzambi: Villa’s man in form
Manzambi has five attacking returns in as many gameweeks in Fantasy Premier League, and no midfielder in the game has had more than his 17 shots since his full debut in Gameweek 5. Our Johan Manzambi scouting report explains why Switzerland are so excited about him. He plays.
Emiliano Buendía: keeps his place, just
Buendía came back into the side at Barcelona and was taken off just after the hour while on a yellow card. Ibrahim Mbaye replaced him and drew a save from Joan Garcia, so this one is close, but we think the Argentine’s experience wins it at Old Trafford.
Nicolas Jackson: the No.9
Jackson is in the running for the Premier League Player of the Month award for October, and he carried Villa’s main threat in the first half at Camp Nou. Tammy Abraham waits on the bench.
Who could change the Villa lineup?
Wan-Bissaka is the big one. If he trains fully on Saturday, Emery may decide to put him straight back in at right-back and keep Lindelöf in the middle, which would leave Mings on the bench.
Brian Madjo is back in contention after missing the Barcelona game, while Mbaye, Ross Barkley and Alysson are all pushing for minutes. Emery said everyone else is available, and with his new Aston Villa contract close, he has every reason to be bold.
Verdict: the right-back call decides it
Villa have the better form, but they have never won at Old Trafford under Emery, and losing Cash takes away one of their most reliable players. Get the right-back decision right and keep Manzambi on the ball, and this could be the year that record finally goes.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Man United (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Lindelöf, Torres, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Goretzka; McGinn, Manzambi, Buendía; Jackson