Aston Villa vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates

Sixth in the table, unbeaten in five games. These have not traditionally been the things Manchester United would boast about. They have achieved far more too often to mention. Now, however, this may represent the high point of a troubled campaign; perhaps, for the often beleaguered Erik ten Hag, the springboard that will rescue it.

Winning the battle for sixth, and dislodging West Ham, puts United in their joint best position of the season after their joint biggest victory of the campaign. Besides beating Aston Villa, they had not seen off anyone currently in the top nine, so West Ham ranks among their prize scalps. And if that five-game sequence includes FA Cup ties against lower-league Wigan and Newport and three matches when they have lost leads, they are at least undefeated in 2024 and acquiring some momentum.

Perhaps most encouragingly, United were propelled onwards by men who could be scoring for them well into the 2030s. This was their future against their past, with their former manager David Moyes overcome as Rasmus Hojlund scored on his 21st birthday and Alejandro Garnacho, still a teenager, delivered a double. A picture of three rookies – with Kobbie Mainoo the other – celebrating sat together on an advertising hoarding may prove the afternoon’s abiding image.

Can United build on their great win against West Ham last week?

Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

The visitors, meanwhile, will have Lisandro Martinez unavailable for eight weeks after the centre-back injured his knee against West Ham. The Argentine had just returned from another long-term foot injury but could still feature before the end of the season after it was confirmed he had not damaged his ACL as initially feared.

“It is a setback of course,” Ten Hag said on Thursday. “Licha was returning, you see his contribution to the team when he is playing, apart from the technical skills also the mentality.

“It is a big setback for Licha, he is very disappointed but he is a fighter. He will be back stronger and will play by the end of the season.”

Elsewhere, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Martial and Mason Mount are all out.

Predicted Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Torres, Carlos, Digne; Luiz, Kamara; Bailey, Tielemans, McGinn; Watkins

Aston Villa could welcome Pau Torres and Lucas Digne back into defence, but Unai Emery’s side suffered a blow this week when Ezri Konsa was ruled out for up to a month.

Konsa picked up the knee injury in Villa’s 5-0 win against Sheffield United and initial scans have confirmed a series injury.

“He has a knee sprain and is not going to be available. I don’t know, three or four weeks more or less,” Emery confirmed last week.

Torres and Digne, meanwhile, could come back into the side, with the Spanish coach saying the duo are still “recovering”.

When is Aston Villa vs Manchester United?

The Premier League fixture will kick off at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday 11 February at Villa Park.

How can I watch Aston Villa vs Manchester United?

Aston Villa vs Manchester United will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting after the earlier game between West Ham and Arsenal. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

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Aston Villa host Manchester United in the Premier League this afternoon in what is a key battle in the top-four race.

Unai Emery’s side have been one of the surprise packages of the season and sit eight points and two places above Erik ten Hag’s team, who lie in sixth.

However, United’s storming comeback against Villa in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, when the hosts came from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2, has impacted the momentum of both teams.

Villa have won just once in their last five and have been beaten at home two games in a row – against Newcastle and Chelsea in the FA Cup – while United come into this fixture on the back of consecutive Premier League wins against Wolves and West Ham.

United have not won three Premier League games in a row all season and this tricky trip to Villa Park could determine if they are able to close the gap to the top-four over the second half of the season.

Follow all the build-up and updates to Aston Villa vs Manchester United in today’s live blog