Confirmed: United team to face Aston Villa

Cristiano Ronaldo is among those who aren’t featuring against Steve Gerrard’s side as we start our campaign in the famous competition.

Ronaldo misses out alongside Phil Jones, who performed well in the 1-0 Wolves defeat after almost two years out.

Jones’ place is taken by the returning Victor Lindelof. The Swedish international has been absent due to injury and then COVID-19 since the win at Norwich on 11 December. He will partner Raphael Varane.

Bruno Fernandes is back in the starting line-up and captains United. Marcus Rashford replaces Ronaldo up front in the Reds attack.

Fred is in for Nemanja Matic in midfield and Diogo Dalot replaces Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right back.

Rangnick is keen that the Reds get back to winning ways urgently following the disappointing defeat in our last match against Wolves and insists United must be the dominant force against the Villans.

“Of course we want to make amends, " he told MUTV.

"We owe that to the fans, we owe that to ourselves. Especially in the first half against Wolves we didn’t get hold of the ball so this would be the most important part tonight - that in the pressing zone, in that area, we try to dominate the game and this means to play much more compact and much more aggressive.”

Villa boss Steven Gerrard has made two changes to his starting XI from their last outing – a 2-1 defeat away at Brentford.

Centre-back and captain Tyrone Mings returns. He replaces Kortney Hause in the back four.

Up front, Ollie Watkins is in attack as Bertrand Traoré is competing at the Africa Cup of Nations.

THE TEAMS

United: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes (C), Greenwood, Rashford, Cavani.

Subs: Heaton, Mata, Lingard, Amad , Telles, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Van de Beek, Elanga.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Watkins.

Subs: Steer, Sinisalo, Sanson, El Ghazi, Hause, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka, Archer, Iroegbunam.