Erik Ten Hag Aims For Much-Needed Turnaround Against Aston Villa In Premier League Clash

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Manchester United are eager for a Premier League victory as they face Aston Villa on Sunday. Erik ten Hag is under pressure following a 3-0 loss to Tottenham. United have won only twice in six league games this season, losing three times. Their recent home defeats total 6-0. With just seven points, they match their worst start under David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Villa, meanwhile, are in strong form after a Champions League win over Bayern Munich and remain unbeaten in four league matches. In contrast, United drew 3-3 with Porto in the Europa League, with Harry Maguire's late goal offering little relief for Ten Hag. The upcoming match against Villa is crucial for United's season.

Last week's defeat to Spurs was particularly disheartening for United fans. Reduced to 10 men after Bruno Fernandes' red card, which has since been overturned, United struggled defensively. Spurs achieved an expected goals (xG) figure of 4.59, one of the highest against United since records began in 2009.

Villa have started their campaign impressively, securing 13 points from six Premier League games—their best start since the 2008-09 season under Martin O'Neill. Opta's supercomputer gives Villa a 42% chance of winning against United's 33.2%, with a draw at 24.8%. Historically, United have dominated Villa with 40 wins in Premier League encounters.

Aston Villa's Jhon Duran has been making waves as a substitute forward this season. He scored a stunning lob against Bayern Munich midweek, bringing his goal tally to five across all competitions—all from the bench. Duran averages a goal every 39 minutes in the league this season.

Ollie Watkins is another key player for Villa, having scored four Premier League goals this term. He has contributed to 55 goals in 67 appearances under Unai Emery at Aston Villa. Watkins aims to score in four consecutive games for the first time since April 2023.

Defensive Challenges for Manchester United

United have managed back-to-back away clean sheets but have lost eight Premier League matches by three or more goals under Ten Hag. They often leave gaps in defence and midfield, leading to isolated defenders facing one-on-one situations.

Their xG against stands at 11.04 despite conceding only eight goals—fifth-worst in the league. This highlights defensive vulnerabilities that Ten Hag must address if they hope to secure points against Villa.

Bruno Fernandes' Impact

Bruno Fernandes' availability is crucial for Manchester United as they prepare to face Aston Villa. The team has struggled without him, failing to score in their last three games without the Portuguese international.

Fernandes has taken 17 shots this season but is yet to find the net—the highest tally among players who haven't scored across Europe's top five leagues this season.

Aston Villa's home form under Unai Emery has been impressive; only Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have earned more home points since Emery took charge. With players like Duran and Watkins performing well, Villa will be confident heading into Sunday's clash.