Preview: United v Aston Villa

The 16:00 BST kick-off is our first opportunity to play since Wednesday’s gutting UEFA Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The 1-0 loss out in Bilbao, combined with our league position, means this campaign has been a real disappointment, but it’s still a game of some significance.

For starters, it’s an opportunity for the players to give something back to our supporters, who travelled in great numbers to the Basque Country. It also may prove to be a chance for some of those youngsters on the fringes of Ruben Amorim’s squad in recent weeks and months.

As for the visitors, Villa are seeking a victory as they chase a spot in the Premier League’s top five, which, this season secures, qualification for the Champions League.

Read on for the background information on all that, to find out where the game will be shown live on TV, and much more…

HOW TO WATCH

Sunday's game is being broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK. If you reside elsewhere, please check local listings to see if the match is being shown wherever you are.

Our build-up will begin  with Match Day Live, which starts at 14:55 BST.

The United App will have the team news for you at 14:45 BST and provide reporting and updates throughout the afternoon.

We're also providing live radio commentary, insight and Opta-fed stats to keep you across what is happening. Highlights and a full match replay will be available across our platforms later in the day.

FORM GUIDE

No United fan will need reminding this week's events. Amorim’s squad headed to Bilbao, accompanied by thousands of Reds, hoping to bring home a European trophy. After a tight and tense game at San Mames, Tottenham Hotspur came out on top.

Prior to that, attention on the important final had dominated minds for some weeks, seemingly impacting our league form. United are without a win in the Premier League since mid-March’s 3-0 triumph at Leicester City. There have been some incredible European nights in that time, including home-and-away victories over Athletic Club and the 5-4 extra-time success over Lyon, but that form hasn’t carried over into the domestic games.

Aston Villa are enjoying a better spell. Unai Emery’s side have been pushed on as part of a multi-team race for the league’s top five spots, which will secure Champions League qualification. Sixth will give them Europa League football next season.

The Villans currently sit sixth on 66 points, the same as both fifth-placed Chelsea and fourth-placed Newcastle United, but behind the on goal difference. Third-placed Manchester City are two points ahead, while Nottingham Forest follow just one point behind in seventh.

Villa tasted Champions League quarter-final disappointment in April, against Paris Saint-Germain, and then Emirates FA Cup semi-final defeat, versus Crystal Palace, later that month. Since then, they’ve won three consecutive league games, all while keeping clean sheets. Fulham and Bournemouth were both beaten 1-0, and Spurs 2-0.

RECENT MEETINGS

In our last encounter, Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stood out in a 0-0 draw at Villa Park. He twice denied Marcus Rashford, who later joined the Midlands club on loan, with Bruno Fernandes hitting the crossbar with a dipping free-kick.

We have enjoyed a very positive record against Villa, with that draw the only blemish on our five-game record (four wins).

TEAM NEWS

Villa will have had more than a week’s rest for this game, having most recently played last Friday, against Tottenham Hotspur.

Jacob Ramsey is available again for Emery, having served his one-game suspension for a red card against Bournemouth. Rashford has been out since the beginning of the month, and is ineligible to face his parent club regardless. Youri Tielemans missed Villa’s last two games with a calf injury but could return for this one, having just been named both the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season for his club.

United remain without long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez. Matthijs de Ligt was also absent from our Europa League final squad, but Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee all returned to action in Bilbao.

RIVALS WATCH

Bournemouth v Leicester City
Fulham v Manchester City
Ipswich Town v West Ham United
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
UNITED v Aston Villa
Newcastle United v Everton
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Southampton v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolves v Brentford

All games kick off at 16:00 BST.