Goals expected when Man Utd host Aston Villa

Manchester United vs Aston Villa - 01/01/2021

01/01/21 6956

Two of the Premier League’s in-form teams clash on Friday, with Manchester United welcoming Aston Villa to Old Trafford.

A nine-game unbeaten run has seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side secure second place in the table, while a five-match unbeaten streak means Villa are four points behind in fifth.

Man Utd left it late to secure all three points last time out. Their game with Wolves appeared to be heading for a goalless draw, before Marcus Rashford netted the winner deep into stoppage time.

The Red Devils have now won three of their last four outings, with victories over Sheffield United and Leeds coming in-between draws against Manchester City and Leicester.

Only leaders Liverpool have scored more goals than Solskjaer’s men this term, but it is also worth noting that Man Utd have the poorest defensive record in the top half.

Still, having lost just three of their 15 league games in 2020/21, it’s fair to say that Man Utd appear to be heading in the right direction.

On the flip side, Aston Villa last tasted defeat all the way back at the end of November. Since then, three wins and two draws have kept the club’s European ambitions alive.

In contrast to Man Utd, Villa boast the second-best defensive record in the division, having conceded just 14 goals in as many games.

After securing four straight clean sheets against Wolves, Burnley, West Brom and Crystal Palace, Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was finally beaten last time out.

Olivier Giroud gave Chelsea the lead on Monday, although Anwar El Ghazi bagged an equaliser to snatch a point for his side.

In-form El Ghazi has now netted five goals in his last five appearances, including a brace against West Brom.

Head-to-head: Remarkably, Man Utd are unbeaten in their previous 16 matches against Villa, with 12 wins and four draws coming in that time.

Villa’s last victory over United came all the way back in 2009, while the Red Devils claimed a comfortable 3-0 win in the previous meeting.

Team news: Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are both unavailable for Man Utd, with Victor Lindelof in an injury doubt.

Aston Villa will welcome back Tyrone Mings from suspension, while Ross Barkley could feature following a lengthy injury.

With both sides in good form at the moment, this is destined to be a closely-fought encounter at Old Trafford.

Forebet predicts that both teams will score over 1.5 goals on Friday, with a draw looking like the most probable outcome.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

EPL

Manchester United Aston Villa 01/01/2021 21:00

343630

X2-2

2 - 2

3.09

1°

4.25

1.71 4.25 5.00 -1 1 1

FT

2 - 1(1 - 0)

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