Football
Aston Villa vs Manchester United Preview: Odds, Tips & Prediction
Date: Sunday, December 21 Venue: Villa Park Kick-off: 4:30pm GMT Aston Villa should have a spring in their step when they face Manchester United on Sunday, December 21 at Villa Park. A last-gasp victory over Arsenal, and a come-from-behind win against West Ham, mean they are currently just three points off the top in third place. While Manchester United have flattered to deceive at times, they have built some momentum with two wins and a draw from their past three league outings. Last season, they picked up a point when they visited Villa, as they grinded out a goalless draw. Ruben Amorim has managed to shift some of the gloom that pervaded United earlier in the campaign, but will they upset Villa? At SportsBoom, we’ve examined the odds available at the best betting sites for football, and sourced some prices to go alongside our Aston Villa vs Manchester United predictions.
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Victor Lindelof and Morgan Rogers /Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Villa Given Backing
Premier League betting sites will have ample lines advertised, and we’ve assessed the pre-match odds for this fixture:
Home: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
Draw: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
Away: 23/10 (3.30) – 30.3%
*Odds courtesy of Unibet, subject to change.
Head-to-Head Record
Premier League head-to-head records are worth noting, so here’s the tale of the tape between these two sides.
25/05/25: Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa
06/10/24: Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
11/02/24: Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United
26/12/23: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
30/04/23: Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa Current Form – WWWWW
Aston Villa simply can’t put a foot wrong at the moment. Six league wins on the bounce, and eight in their past eight in all competitions, reflect the kind of job that Unai Emery has been doing.
Compared to the start of the season, where they appeared to be in the doldrums, the turnaround has been remarkable, and Villa have a poise and balance to them that makes them great entertainment.
Everything is clicking, and while this is a vital period in terms of whether they can mount a title challenge, they are making all the right noises.
Key Players to Watch
- Morgan Rogers
Often setting the tone for his team’s performances, Morgan Rogers was highly influential against West Ham, and his double helped his side come from behind after a slow start. He’s bagged five league goals, and he should get chances against United. - Ollie Watkins
With his sharp turn of pace and ability to bring players into the game, Ollie Watkins is a versatile forward, and he leads the line extremely well. Although he’s only netted three times, he is a constant threat and could run United ragged. - Youri Tielemans
Silky smooth on the ball, Youri Tielemans tends to grab games by the scruff of the neck, and his passing range is superb. A few more assists and goals wouldn’t go amiss.
Aston Villa Team News
Pau Torres and Emi Martinez are closing in on returns, but the United game may have come a little too soon for the duo. Otherwise, Emery should be able to field a strong side
Manchester United Current Form – DLWDW
Manchester United have shown signs that they are turning the tide. In October, they strung together three wins on the bounce, and they are currently in the midst of a good run of form, picking up seven points from their last three league games.
Their previous trip to the Midlands yielded a crushing 4-1 win over Wolves, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, and Amorim will be hoping to spread some Christmas joy to the United faithful.
The games come thick and fast, but United have enough depth of talent to cope with the gruelling schedule.
Key Players to Watch
- Mason Mount
At one point, it seemed that Mason Mount was surplus to requirements. However, the United midfielder has got his head done, and he’s contributed three goals this term, so he’s come on bounds. - Bryan Mbeumo
The club’s main goal getter, Bryan Mbeumo has struck six times, and he looks just as smooth as when he was at Brentford. Villa will need to double up on him. - Bruno Fernandes
The Red Devils skipper, Bruno Fernandes is a vocal presence on the pitch, but he can weave his influence. After his two-goal showing away to Wolves, he will be hoping to get on the scoresheet against Villa.
Manchester United Team News
Benjamin Sesko is set to return after suffering from food poisoning which means Joshua Zirkzee could drop to the bench. Meanwhile, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are unavailable as they will be participating with the Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Predicted Line-Ups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins
Manchester United (3-4-2-1)
Lammens; Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Mount, Sesko
Suggested Bets
Villa to Keep a Clean Sheet (No): Villa’s last clean sheet came against Wolves last month, and while they held United to a goalless draw last season, it seems unlikely they will shut out the visitors for 90 minutes. (13/50 with Kwiff)
Highest Scoring Half – Second-Half: Goals have tended to flow in the second 45 minutes of this fixture, and we could be in for a grandstand finish. This line certainly resonates. (21/20 with Spreadex)
Total Corners Over 6.5: Four of the past five league meetings have seen this line hit, so it is worth tapping into. (1/10 with BetMGM)
Value Bets
Premier League bookmakers have virtually every angle covered, and we’ve delivered some football betting tips to mull over.
Anytime Goalscorer – Morgan Rogers: While he won’t feel like it’s a burden, Morgan Rogers has been Villa’s main attacking threat this term, and he could get on the scoresheet this weekend. (23/10 with Betfred)
Anytime Assist – Bruno Fernandes: With six assists to his name, Fernandes has been active in the final third, and he could have an impact on the game. (4/1 with Bet442)
Time of First Goal (45-60th Minute): These fixtures have been dramatic at times, but given our earlier tip of the second-half to be the highest scoring, the first goal could arrive in the 45th to 60th minute of the game (13/2 with Betway)
Prediction: Aston Villa to Win & BTTS
The way Villa have been rattling along over the past few weeks means they shouldn’t be discounted in the title race. Arsenal will have them and Manchester City firmly in their wing mirror, and while United harbour Champions League aspirations, Villa may shade this encounter. While there have been a few draws in recent seasons, Villa are in their element, and a home win with BTTS has legs to it.
Charles Perrin has spent over six years writing about sports betting, working with some of the UK’s top sportsbooks, including bet365 and William Hill.
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