Manchester United put their recent unbeaten run to a stern test on Sunday when they travel to face fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The Reds are undefeated in five and eased past West Ham with a 3-0 win last weekend, which is without doubt the best run of form we’ve shown all season. That victory came with a blow because it saw Lisandro Martinez sustain a serious knee injury.
The Argentine faces around two months out as a result and will not be available to travel to Villa Park on Sunday.
Even though Villa were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Chelsea during the week, we still think they will give United a tough test at the very least.
Manchester United predicted XI vs Aston Villa
Andre Onana will get the nod between the sticks, behind a back four consisting of Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
There has been talk about playing Shaw at centre-back, but we don’t have a left-back anywhere near as good to fill in his place. It is not something I would consider for the two months we’ll be without Martinez.
The midfield and front three pick themselves – with Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes winning battles in the middle of the pitch. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford will be tasked with scoring more goals.
Manchester United predicted XI: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.
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