Manchester United vs Aston Villa: Premier League – teams, start, lineups

Old Trafford stages the season’s most pivotal top-four shoot-out on Sunday when third-placed Manchester United welcome fourth-placed Aston Villa for a 14:00 GMT kick-off, live on Al Jazeera from 11:00 GMT. Separated only by goal difference and with Chelsea and Liverpool lurking three points behind, both clubs know that victory would deliver a commanding hand in the race for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Interim United boss Michael Carrick, still smarting from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at 10-man Newcastle, insisted his squad has “digested” that loss and is “itching to get going again” after an otherwise encouraging run since he replaced Ruben Amorim in January. Carrick brushed off social-media criticism from former team-mate Paul Scholes, saying differing opinions are “fine” and refusing to be drawn into a war of words.

Team-sheet relief could come in the shape of Mason Mount, back in training after a two-month lay-off, though Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez (calf) are definitely out and Luke Shaw remains a doubt. Noussair Mazraoui, forced off at St James’ Park, is expected to be available.

Villa arrive buoyed by Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win at Lille, Ollie Watkins’ second-half strike ending a four-match winless streak. Unai Emery’s side have lost three of their last five Premier League away fixtures, but December’s 2-1 reverse-fixation success over United—courtesy of a Morgan Rogers double—will fuel belief. John McGinn returned in France and could start, yet Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara are still sidelined, while right-back Matty Cash is rated doubtful.

With nine rounds remaining and European futures on the line, the Theatre of Dreams promises a drama worthy of its name.