Chris Knows: Manchester United vs Aston Villa Prediction & More

There is one more round of Premier League fixtures to play before the second international break of the campaign, and there are a whole host of interesting matches. We’ll be taking a look at Manchester United’s clash with Aston Villa, Brighton vs Brentford, Arsenal vs Hull City and Fulham vs Newcastle.

Last week I had a mixed result with my tips for Chelsea’s match against Manchester United. Morgan Rogers as an anytime goalscorer came in @ 15/8, however my pick for Chelsea to win both halves fell flat @ 7/4.

Manchester United vs Aston Villa

Manchester United won a football match on Wednesday. It feels like an awfully long time since anyone was able to write such a sentence, yet Michael Carrick’s charges did at least show a modicum of spirit in their 3-2 comeback victory over Roma in the Champions League.

After a predictably woeful first-half showing, United somehow found their self-belief and put real pressure on the Italian defence to overturn a 2-0 deficit and record a vital victory.

Of course, United’s league position is still precarious. We’re beyond Bonfire Night, and they’ve won just one league game all season.

Unai Emery is one of the most astute technicians around, and he will take a confident Aston Villa side to Old Trafford on Sunday, despite their midweek trouncing at the hands of Barcelona.

Emery’s Villa do sometimes struggle against Manchester United. Rarely do they come away with all three points, despite often being the favourites going into the matchups over the last two seasons.

I think Sunday will be an unusual game. Despite it literally being just one good half of football, there was a sense that United’s win over Roma rebuilt some of the club’s shattered confidence. Carlos Baleba will be a miss as United fans still wait to see how he and Kobbie Mainoo can develop together. Youri Tielemans played his best 45 minutes of football in a United shirt against Roma and will be keen to carry this forward against his former club.

Villa will score on Sunday; United’s defence is too fragile, but I think this one will end in a draw.

Brighton vs Brentford

Brighton hosting Brentford is a meeting between the two best organised clubs in the Premier League. Their recruitment is fantastic, their coaching hires don’t miss and this will be a fascinating tactical battle.

Brighton’s performances this season have put them firmly in the conversation for Champions League qualification, but their defensive resolve will be tested by the Bees on Sunday.

I like a home win in this fixture, even taking into consideration Brentford’s strengths. I don’t think it will be a hugely high-scoring match though.

Arsenal vs Hull City

Arsenal face Hull City after a wonderful win at Anfield last weekend. Mikel Arteta’s charges looked every bit the favourites for the Premier League title as they physically overmatched Andoni Iraola’s side.

With Manchester City’s season expected to be worth nothing in the end, it’s difficult to envisage a scenario where the Gunners don’t win back-to-back top-flight titles for the first time since the 1930s.

Arsenal are good at home, and Hull City have a suspect defence. They’ve got little chance of an upset.

Fulham vs Newcastle

Fulham and Newcastle have been two of the league’s most disappointing teams to this point.

Alvaro Arbeloa hasn’t quite got his style embedded into his team, whilst Matthias Jaissle appears to be struggling with the pressure that comes with the Newcastle United job.

Jaissle bemoaned a lack of confidence within his squad after another disappointing defeat to Everton, and you wouldn’t want to be either manager should they suffer a defeat in this game.

Fulham’s home advantage could prove a factor in this win, but I’m uneasy about backing them entirely.