Aston Villa face Man Utd at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Boxing Day, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting line-up looks.
Both Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are unavailable for the encounter due to suspension, and so given the former’s absence, the Villa boss was set to be forced into at least one change.
READ MORE: Villa paired with interest in transfer target to bolster attacking options
Meanwhile, there was also a question mark over the fitness of Pau Torres who missed the draw with Sheffield Utd last week due to an ankle injury, and so the Spanish international’s possible inclusion in the squad was a key factor too.
As we’ve seen already this season though, Emery does have a strong squad to utilise when there are absentees, and the expectation was always that we would still put out a strong XI.
That’s reflected in the tweet from the club below, starting with Emiliano Martinez between the posts, with a back four consisting of Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Clement Lenglet and Lucas Digne in front of him.
With Cash’s absence, Konsa shifts across to right-back as Carlos comes in, and there’s good news with Pau named on the bench as he moves closer to a return,
There’s an important change in midfield too as Leander Dendoncker comes in alongside Douglas Luiz in the middle, with Moussa Diaby making way to the bench as Leon Bailey starts in a more advanced role alongside Ollie Watkins in the final third.
That in turn means John McGinn will start wider with Jacob Ramsey on the opposite flank, and so there is a good balance to this Villa line-up that will hopefully be key in securing all three points.
It’s a big night for Dendoncker though as he makes his first Premier League start since Villa’s last trip to Old Trafford in April, and the Belgian midfielder’s ability to impose himself and help us control the game will be pivotal to the outcome.
Your Aston Villa at Old Trafford! 👊 pic.twitter.com/JT02pO7mLp
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 26, 2023