How to watch and follow Villa v United

It’s the second time this season that we’ve faced the same opponents in two consecutive fixtures, having done the same with West Ham United in September 2021.

As English football’s jam-packed January schedule continues at a pace, here’s everything you need to know about Aston Villa v United in one place...

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE MATCH?

The game at Villa Park kicks off at 17:30 GMT on Saturday 15 January and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK. MUTV's coverage will begin when Matchday Live goes on air at 16:25 GMT - the show will include pre-match build-up, live match radio commentary and post-match analysis. Alternatively, you can follow the game with live updates via ManUtd.com and our Official App.

TEAM NEWS

Ralf Rangnick will be without Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw for Saturday’s game. Both players are suspended for one match. Our opponents will be without midfielder John McGinn who has also picked up five yellow cards in the Premier League this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed Monday’s FA Cup win over Villa with a couple of “minor problems” and is hopefully going to be available again for selection. Club captain Harry Maguire and defensive team-mate Phil Jones are in a similar situation. Eric Bailly is unavailable as a result of his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Paul Pogba remains United’s only long-term absentee, with Rangnick confirming last Friday that the Frenchman will need another few weeks of recovery before returning to full training.

Steven Gerrard may hand a debut to Villa’s new signing Philippe Coutinho, brought in from Barcelona on loan. Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet are both on AFCON duty, Leon Bailey is on his way back from a thigh injury and Marvelous Nakamba is some weeks away from playing following a knee problem. Ex-Red Ashley Young has been out with discomfort in the foot area but has a chance of returning for this one.

FORM GUIDE

We met Villa only a few days ago, of course. The Midlands side proved tough opponents at Old Trafford, testing David De Gea on several occasions and seeing two goals disallowed, but ultimately fell victim to Scott McTominay’s well-directed eighth-minute header.

Villa are now on a three-game losing run (United, Brentford and Chelsea) and have won four of their nine games since Gerrard took over from Dean Smith as manager.

As for United, Ralf Rangnick will be keen to see his side cast our most recent Premier League game in the shadows with a win. Wolves finished 1-0 winners at Old Trafford earlier this month after a performance which Rangnick admitted he ‘hated’. The German coach is looking for a “completely different performance” where the team shows itself to be “proactive and aggressive.”

THE MANAGER

Steven Gerrard began his coaching career with Liverpool Under-18s before joining Scottish Premiership club Rangers in June 2018. Gerrard won one title with the Glasgow club and was appointed as replacement to Dean Smith at Aston Villa in November 2021. As a player, Gerrard won a Champions League, two FA Cups and three League Cups with Liverpool before wrapping up his career with a stint at LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

RECENT MEETINGS

Scott McTominay’s early header proved the decisive intervention in Monday’s FA Cup third-round clash, sending United through to face Middlesbrough. Earlier this season, Villa came away from Old Trafford with a win by the same scoreline, 1-0, as Kortney Hause scored two minutes from time in the Premier League.

In May 2021, second-half goals from Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani helped United come from behind to win 3-1 at Villa Park. Earlier in the 2020/21 campaign, Anthony Martial and Fernandes found the back of the net in a crucial 2-1 home win. Eric Bailly came up with a stunning late block to help secure the three points.

KEY STATS

Goalscorers: Jack Rowley and Wayne Rooney are the joint-highest scoring players in United history in matches against Aston Villa, with 14 strikes apiece. Cristiano Ronaldo has bagged nine goals in 15 appearances against Villa while Bruno Fernandes has three goals in five games against the Midlands side.

An historic ground: This will be Manchester United’s 105th match at Villa Park. We have played more often at only other ‘away’ ground, Maine Road, where we hosted home matches in the aftermath of World War II. In total, 91 of our 104 matches at Villa Park have been against Aston Villa, with a further 13 ‘neutral’ occasions.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Nick Hopton
Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Mike Dean
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY

Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace (20:00 GMT)

SATURDAY 15 JANUARY

Manchester City v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)
Burnley v Leicester
Newcastle v Watford
Norwich v Everton
Wolves v Southampton
Aston Villa v UNITED (17:30 GMT)

SUNDAY 16 JANUARY

Liverpool v Brentford (14:00 GMT)
West Ham v Leeds (14:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (16:30 GMT)