Alan Hutton predicts result of Aston Villa Premier League showdown v Manchester United
Aston Villa will be unable to return to winning ways and continue their push for Champions League football when they face Manchester United on Sunday 11 February, according to Alan Hutton.
Unai Emery’s side are looking to bounce back from their FA Cup fourth-round exit at the hands of Chelsea when they welcome Erik ten Hag’s side to Villa Park, knowing a win will maintain their place in the top four of the Premier League.
When the two sides met at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, Villa threw away a two-goal lead to return to the Midlands empty-handed, with Rasmus Hojlund’s first Premier League goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.
Former Villa defender and now BBC Sport pundit Hutton knows that Emery’s men will be looking to quickly bounce back from their defeat to Chelsea, but believes their recent inconsistency at home could see the two sides share the points.
“It’s obviously at home and the last two home games they’ve conceded six goals,” Hutton told Villa News.
“From the record that they’ve had from the start of the season until now and the last couple of games have been poor performances so they will want to put that right.
“Manchester United as well, it’s a difficult one to call and you’ve put me on the spot with these, I think I’ll go 1-1.”
Unai Emery must continue Aston Villa Champions League push v Man United
Nobody expected Aston Villa to challenge the Premier League’s big six this season, but Emery has managed to transform the entire feeling around Villa Park to turn his side into genuine title and European challengers.
The FA Cup defeat to Chelsea would have been a huge blow and Villa fans would have been gutted to see another chance at silverware pass them by, but only a matter of days ago, this side managed to put five goals past Sheffield United.
If Emery’s side play at anywhere near the level they managed at Bramall Lane, they will manage to claim all three points against Manchester United. It won’t be easy, but Villa have shown that they can beat anybody on their day this season.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has shared his verdict on reports surrounding Leon Bailey’s contract extension at Villa Park
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