Manchester United return to Premier League action this Sunday, with the visit of Aston Villa to Old Trafford.
It concludes an extended 11-day break for the Reds, following our late loss last time out against Newcastle United.
Michael Carrick will be looking to lead his side back to winning ways against a side we enter the game level on points with; this being a crucial meeting in the context of the top-four battle.
United meet the Villans at a difficult time, as they are without a win in all competitions
since the middle of February.
That includes a loss to Newcastle in the Emirates FA Cup and a draw with Leeds United in the Premier League, followed by consecutive losses to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea.
The Midlands outfit do, however, have a chance to arrest that slip in form before they head to Manchester this weekend, with a UEFA Europa League trip to Lille on Thursday in their diary.
Emery will likely see that as a chance to lift the squad, but with a tight turnaround to our meeting on the Sunday, the Reds may benefit from the longer break.
TEAM NEWS
Carrick is expected to be without Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorguf or this game, with both still recovering from longer-term injuries.
Mason Mount and Lisandro Martinez are also working towards returns, while we await an update on Noussair Mazraoui, who started in our last outing against Newcastle United, but left the field towards the end of the game, seemingly in some discomfort.
Our head coach could provide the latest on that trio, and the rest of the squad, in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Andres Garcia are set to be missing for the visitors. John McGinn was “progressively getting better” from his knee injury sustained in January, when the situation was last addressed by Unai Emery, so it remains to be seen whether he’s in contention to play at Old Trafford.
Harvey Elliott and Matty Cash are the only other players with recent issues. Like Carrick, the Villa boss may provide further information in his media duties ahead of the game.
Jadon Sancho is ineligible due to the fact he is on loan from United.
This game is an important clash in terms of the battle for UEFA Champions League football next season, as we currently occupy third place on goal difference, and our opponents are just behind, in fourth.
A United win would see us solidify our current berth, but a loss would see Villa leapfrog us in the table.
We must also keep an eye further down the rankings, as Chelsea and Liverpool are both only three points behind, with their goal tallies meaning both have a chance to enter the top four at the expense of a losing side at Old Trafford this weekend.
The Blues welcome Newcastle to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, sandwiched between their two-legged European tie with Paris Saint-Germain. The Merseysiders face Tottenham Hotspur in the late kick-off following our game on Sunday, with Galatasaray providing their Champions League opposition either side.
However, it’s worth pointing out that with England currently topping UEFA’s coefficient charts, fifth place in the Premier League could be enough to secure Champions League entry next term.
