Aston Villa vs Man Utd LIVE: Stream, score, TV channel as United LEAD, Martinez error – Premier League latest updates
ASTON VILLA and Man Utd are playing for the second time in five days as the sides meet in the Premier League.
As was the case on Monday, there's no place for Cristiano Ronaldo who has not recovered from a hip injury in time.
The hosts meanwhile give a debut to Lucas Digne, while Phillipe Coutinho starts on the bench.
- UK start time: 5.30pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: Sky Go/NOW TV
- Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Watkins.
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Alex Telles, Varane, Lindelof, Dalot, Fred, Elanga, Matic, Bruno Fernandes, Greenwood, Cavani.
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- Wally Downes Jr
Villa 0 Man United 0
3 Villa start bright and hungry.
The Midlanders perhaps inspired by underdogs Norwich stunning Everton.
Watkins begins as his bullish athletic self, showing no respect for United's history.
Sanson bullies Telles off the ball so United have time to create something.
- Wally Downes Jr
NLD derby row
Away from this fixture but Spurs are fuming that Arsenal have been able to postpone tomorrow's derby due to covid.
They said: "We are extremely surprised that this application has been approved.
"We ourselves were disqualified from the European Conference League after a significant number of COVID cases meant we needed to reschedule a fixture and our application to move our Leicester fixture was not approved – only for it to be subsequently postponed when Leicester applied.
"The original intention of the guidance was to deal with player availability directly affected by COVID cases, resulting in depleted squads that when taken together with injuries would result in the club being unable to field a team.
"We do not believe it was the intent to deal with player availability unrelated to COVID.
"We may now be seeing the unintended consequences of this rule.
"It is important to have clarity and consistency on the application of the rule
- Wally Downes Jr
Why Villa?
He could not sparkle at Barcelona nor Bayern Munich.
So why are Villa fans so cure Countinho will light up their side?
He could an inspired signing that drives them into Europe.
He could also be an albratross around their neck.
- Jim Sheridan
Kick-off on the way
The teams back in the dressing rooms and the countdown almost over.
Coutinho given a huge cheer as he crashes in a long-ranger during the warm-ups.Yep, he's back.
Predictions? Looks like goals to me.
- Jim Sheridan
Here he is Villa fans..
The man you've all been waiting for.
Can Coutinho be the super sub for the Villans today? Kick-off is not far away now.
- Jim Sheridan
Learning from history
This fixture hasn't been kind to Villa over the years.
They've face United 23 TIMES on home soil since 1999 in competitive matches – and won none.
And it's a whopping 27 years since their last home win over the Red Devils in the Premier League.
Records are there to be broken, eh?
- Jim Sheridan
No Ron
There's no Ronaldo today for the visitors in a huge boost for Gerrard's side.
Rangnick has indicated the forward is out with a 'hip injury'.
The United boss revealed that Ronaldo didn't train on Friday but is expected to be available for the match against Brentford next Wednesday.
SunSport had exclusively revealed the knock on Friday, which saw CR7 head home early from training.
The 36-year-old Portuguese star has been a workhorse since his return to Manchester in the summer, making 26 appearances for club and country since August.
- Jim Sheridan
Boy wonder Elanga
What a chance for United's young star Anthony Elanga today.
The 19-year-old looked lively off the bench in the FA Cup win over the Villans and will start this evening for Rangnick's side.
He scored his first senior goal for United with a bullet header against Wolves on the final day of the campaign.
And his dad Joseph Elanga was a professional footballer who earned 17 caps for Cameroon and was called up to the 1998 World Cup squad.
Anthony was previously handed the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, which has been won by first-teamers Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood in the past.
- Jim Sheridan
And for the hosts…
Villa have Lucas Digne making his debut, with Phillipe Coutinho named amongst the subs.
Starting XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Watkins.
Subs: Steer, Kesler Hayden, Hause, Targett, Young, Iroegbunam, Chukwuemeka, Coutinho, Archer.
- Jim Sheridan
The teams are in
Man Utd first up and Cristiano Ronaldo is out for the Red Devils…
Starting XI: De Gea, Alex Telles, Varane, Lindelof, Dalot, Fred, Elanga, Matic, Bruno Fernandes, Greenwood, Cavani.
Subs: Heaton, Henderson, Maguire, Jones, Lingard, Mata, van de Beek, Sancho.
- Jim Sheridan
Familiar foes
Manchester United have come down the M6 today for a clash against some very familiar opposition.
It's just five days since the Red Devils lined up against Aston Villa, with the sides battling it out on Monday for a place in the FA Cup fourth round.
Ralf Rangnick's side narrowly came out on top in that one, although United rode their luck at times in an entertaining cup tie.
So back to the Premier League it is today for this pair, with Villa looking to bounce back from three defeats in all competitions.
United meanwhile are in danger of losing touch with the top six after defeat to Wolves in their last top-flight match.
That left Rangnick's men four points off Arsenal in fifth and defeat today would be a bitter blow as they look to secure European football next season.
And history is certainly with the visitors.
Villa have an appalling record against United on this ground, with their last home win coming 23 YEARS ago in 1999.
We're all set for a belter under the lights at Villa Park – team news in imminent and the game gets underway at 5.30pm GMT.
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