Man United v Aston Villa preview: Team news, lineups, supercomputer prediction
Aston Villa will be hoping for help from elsewhere as they take on Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season.
Unai Emery’s side are currently sixth in the Premier League, with the teams who finish in the top five qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Villans are level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle United, who are above them on goal difference heading into the last day.
Villa will be looking to compound Ruben Amorim’s misery after Manchester United were beaten in the UEFA Europa League final by Tottenham on Wednesday (21 May).
A victory at Old Trafford on Sunday (25 May) would potentially see Villa qualify for the Champions League, provided results elsewhere go in their favour.
Manchester United v Aston Villa preview
The Villa Park outfit head to Old Trafford in sensational form, having won their last three league matches, putting themselves right in the mix for a second season among Europe’s elite.
They will take confidence from their 2-0 Premier League win over Tottenham at Villa Park on Friday (16 May), especially as the Lilywhites beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Should Emery’s side pick up the points they need at Old Trafford, they will be hoping that Everton can do them a favour against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, while they will also have a keen interest in the clash between Forest and Chelsea at the City Ground, where a draw would be the most favourable outcome.
Meanwhile, United are 16th in the top-flight after a dismal campaign and are set for their worst season in the Premier League era after missing out on the Europa League in Bilbao.
The Red Devils have lost five of their last six in the league, and Villa can take advantage of their poor form when the two sides meet.
Team news
Emery will be without Marcus Rashford, who would not have been eligible to play against his parent club anyway, and Youri Tielemans, due to injury.
The Villa boss could decide to axe Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen after poor performances in the win over Spurs.
However, the Spaniard is expected to stick with the majority of the team that played in the Villa Park clash as he looks to secure another Champions League berth.
Meanwhile, for Amorim, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt are the only absentees, with United predicted to make several changes to the side that lost in the final.
Predicted lineups
Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, Lindelof, Heaven, Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dorgu, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins.
Betting odds
Manchester United: 16/5
Draw: 16/5
Aston Villa: 8/11
(All odds correct as of 22 May, via Bet365)
Supercomputer prediction
Opta’s supercomputer has backed Villa to secure all three points, with the odds stacked in favour of Emery’s side.
The Villans have been handed a 51.8 per cent chance to win the contest, with a home victory the next most likely outcome at 24.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, a draw is the least likely result, with just a 23.3 per cent chance, according to the outlet.