Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Aston Villa v Lazio - Bescot Stadium, Walsall, Britain, August 3, 2023 Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their first goal with Emiliano Buendia Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsBetting Tips
On Boxing Day, Manchester United and Aston Villa square off in hopes of a victory. On Friday night, Villa had the opportunity to take the lead in the Premier League, but they struggled against Sheffield United and ended up drawing 1-1. After losing 2-0 at West Ham the next day, Manchester United dropped to ninth place in the Premier League.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa
The Red Devils’ chances of winning the Champions League appear poor, and they are under a lot of pressure going into 2024. Going into this Boxing Day match, they are 11 points behind Aston Villa, who have made a remarkable comeback in just over a year.
Not only was Saturday a loss for United, but it was also their fourth straight game without a goal. That’s a terrible stretch for a United team that has made significant investments, but their current forward line doesn’t seem to reflect their large expenditures.
Against the Hammers, United was apathetic, and it’s concerning that they’re not producing opportunities. In their last six league games, they have only surpassed their opponents’ xG once, and that was against a terrible Chelsea team. This season, the Red Devils’ total xG ranks 10th in the league; the only teams with better Expected Goals Against totals are Burnley, Luton, and Sheffield United.
That points to United being poor overall, which is clear in their results. They’ve lost eight of 18 league games, while they’ve suffered six defeats across their last 10 at Old Trafford.
Verdict
Aston Villa’s run since then has been nothing short of perfect; they haven’t experienced defeat since their match against Nottingham Forest on November 5. They’ve entered the title race thanks to victories at home against Manchester City and Arsenal, but don’t panic—their road performance has nearly equaled that.
Crucial victories over Brentford and Tottenham have demonstrated the team’s true resiliency, and Emery is still creating something truly exceptional with the Midlands team.
Regarding Manchester United, the same cannot be stated. One may argue that a 3-0 loss to Man City was anticipated, but a similar result against Bournemouth was not. Despite a goalless draw with Liverpool, Ten Hag and the supporters are extremely concerned about the team’s defensive weaknesses and lack of consistency.
If he can’t instill confidence in his team, his employment might not last the entire season. Emery’s players are competing for the shirt, even though his players aren’t.
United’s lack of firepower is somewhat worrying, as they have only scored 10 goals in nine home games, three of which came against Nottingham Forest. Additionally, a high injury rate is not optimal.
Tip: Villa to Win / Over 2.5 goals
Villa to win – ❌
Over 2.5 Goals – ✅
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Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
