WHO: Manchester United-Aston Villa
That: The Premier League of English football
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, March 15, at 2:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live coverage begins at 11:00 GMT
Manchester United and Aston Villa face a decisive clash in the race for qualification for the UEFA Champions League on Sunday.
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The pair sit third and fourth respectively in the Premier League, with United overtaking Villa on goal difference, while Chelsea and Liverpool are three points behind the pair in fifth and sixth place.
With only the top four guaranteed a place in European football’s top table, the match at Old Trafford has great value for both with nine games left in the season.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match.
Man Utd look to bounce back from first defeat under Carrick
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick said on Friday his players were “desperate to get going” again after suffering their first defeat under his leadership.
Last week, 10-man Newcastle United ended Carrick’s unbeaten run since replacing Ruben Amorim in January.
“I understand the first loss feels different, but it was going to come at some point. Most teams have suffered that at some point,” Carrick told reporters.
“It’s been a really good week in some ways, we’ve put ourselves in a position where there’s a lot to play for.”
Carrick ignores Scholes dig at Man Utd
United’s defeat to Newcastle sparked criticism from former player Paul Scholes, who wrote on Instagram: “Michael definitely has something special about him… because Utd have been shit in the last four games.”
When asked about his former team-mate’s comment, Carrick said: “It was nothing really, there was nothing to say about it.
“I think that’s where we are in terms of social media and stuff, captions and quotes. It can be taken in different ways, so stay calm and understand the true meaning of things.
“Listen, there are different opinions and that’s okay. People can have different opinions.
“It’s just that things are taken from one extreme to another. It is what it is. I don’t worry about it and I don’t give it much importance either.”
“There’s really nothing to say about it,” he said.
How have Aston Villa fared in the Premier League this season?
Villa had a turbulent start to the campaign as they failed to record a win in their first five league games, losing two. However, a streak of 12 wins in 13 leagues propelled them to challenge for the title at the end of the year.
However, a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on New Year’s Eve marked the start of another crisis, with just three wins recorded in 11 matches, starting with the defeat in London.
The Midlands club have lost three of their last five away games in the league, recording just one win in that time.
Last for Man Utd
United suffered their first defeat under Carrick in their match against Newcastle United on 4 March.
The home team were reduced to 10 men when Jacob Ramsey was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
It came in a frenetic end to the first half in which Anthony Gorden gave Newcastle an injury-time lead from the penalty spot, only for Casemiro to head home and equalize to draw the teams level.
William Osula scored the winning goal in the 90th minute to give Eddie Howe’s team three points despite their numerical disadvantage.
“It was disappointing the way the game (against Newcastle) ended, but we digested it, analyzed it and learned from it,” Carrick said before the Villa game.
“We have trained very well this week and the boys are eager to get going.”
Last turn for Aston Villa
Villa won 1-0 at Lille in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, ending a four-game winless streak that included three defeats.
Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the game in the 61st minute.
The second leg will be played at Villa Park on Thursday.
What happened the last time Man Utd played Aston Villa?
Villa recorded a 2-1 victory in the Premier League first leg at Villa Park in November, despite an encouraging performance from Ruben Amorim’s United.
Morgan Rogers scored both goals for Villa; The first was scored in the 45th minute, but United equalized in first-half stoppage time thanks to Matheus Cunha.
What happened in the corresponding match between Man Utd and Villa last season?
United won 2-1 in the Premier League match at Old Trafford last season.
The Red Devils were greatly helped by the sending off of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez just before half-time.
Amad Diallo and a penalty from Christian Eriksen in the 87th minute sealed the victory for the home team.
Face to face
This will be the 202nd meeting between the clubs and Manchester United have won 107 of the games. Aston Villa have won 52 of their matches, dating back to November 1892 and a 2-0 home victory for United in the old Division One.
Manchester United Team News
Carrick said Mason Mount had taken a “big step” and could return from a two-month absence against Villa this weekend.
The midfielder missed the last six league games due to injury.
“He is an important player for us,” he said.
“He’s not 100 percent and he’s only trained for a short period of time. But he’s back and that’s good for us. We’ll see if he’s involved on Sunday. That’s it in terms of players returning.”
However, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Mason Mount remain absent, and Lisandro Martínez has been added to that list with a calf injury, while doubts remain over Luke Shaw’s injury.
The defender was forced out due to injury in the defeat against Newcastle, but Noussair Mazraoui, who was also injured in that match, will be available.
Aston Villa Team News
Midfielder John McGinn returned to action at Lille on Thursday night and could be in line to start at Old Trafford.
Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara remain absent through injury, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of Villa’s lineup.
Right-back Matty Cash is also a doubt, having missed the Lille game after picking up a knock in Villa’s last Premier League game.
Manchester United predicted the starting lineup
Lammens; Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; sesko
Aston Villa predicted the starting line-up
Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Luiz, Onana, Sancho, Rogers, Buendía; watkins
