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2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 7
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Villa Park
Birmingham, England
Sunday, 6 October 2024
Kick-off is at 15h00
Erik ten Hag is coming under increasing pressure as he looks to change Manchester United's fortunes against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday, October 6.
The Red Devils have not made the start they wanted this season after their struggles in 2023-24, winning just two of their opening six matches.
A 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford on September 29 - already their third loss of the campaign - left ten Hag's side down in 13th position, eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
Ten Hag's future had been up in the air even after he won the FA Cup in May, although United subsequently handed him a one-year contract extension two months later.
The Villans have continued to build on an impressive showing last term when they qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 41 years.
Unai Emery's side were held to a 2-2 draw by newly-promoted Ipswich on September 29 which halted a run of three successive wins, but they only two points off the summit in fifth place.
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In team news, the hosts could welcome back Matty Cash (thigh), but the visit of United comes too soon for John McGinn (thigh), Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara (both knee). The visitors must do without suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, who was sent off against Spurs, while Leny Yoro (ankle), Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Luke Shaw (calf) remain unavailable. Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount face fitness tests after being forced off in the loss to the Lilywhites.
Emery felt the draw at Ipswich was a fair reflection of the game which saw Villa dominate the first half but fail to stamp their authority after the break.
"I am not happy but I think the result was fair," the Spaniard said. "We controlled the first half and managed to come back the result, which was fantastic. In the second half, progressively we weren't controlling the game like we needed to.
"If we were scoring the third goal it was the key. We had some transitions that were more or less clear to do something better, something more. We didn't do it, but we are in the process.
"The process is that there are another seven teams in front of us, contenders to be there. We achieved 13 points and I think it's really good, but we are demanding and we want to continue building a team to get our performances even better than we are."
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Ten Hag is confident that United's situation will improve as the campaign progresses, but admitted the players need to do better on the ball and closing down the opposition.
"It is always a new day. I told them, just in the dressing room, to come on. Tomorrow is a new day," the Dutchman said.
"We definitely have to learn, we have to do things better. We have to be better in the pressing and also better on the ball. There were situations where we could have played better, found the spare man and kept the ball and we didn't, which was so disappointing.
"We will turn this around. Tomorrow, we will start all over again. The season is still very young, with many games to play."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Aston Villa wins - 1
Man United wins - 3
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 7 fixtures:
Saturday, October 5
13h30: Crystal Palace v Liverpool
16h00: Arsenal v Southampton
16h00: Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
16h00: Leicester City v Bournemouth
16h00: Manchester City v Fulham
16h00: West Ham United v Ipswich Town
18h30: Everton v Newcastle United
Sunday, October 6
15h00: Aston Villa v Manchester United
15h00: Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
17h30: Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
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