Aston Villa v Manchester United live: Premier League team news and updates as Amorim leaves Mainoo out of squad as Martinez returns for hosts – UK Times

The big news for United is that Kobbie Mainoo misses out, with the England international not in the squad at all, though it is not yet known whether he picked up an injury or if his absence is related to his brother’s recent actions at Old Trafford.

Overall, there are three changes to the side that drew with Bournemouth, with all three enforced due to Afcon and suspensions. Patrick Dorgu comes into defence in place of Amad, while Bryan Mbeumo makes way for Benjamin Sesko and the suspended Casemiro is replaced by Manuel Ugarte.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins

Subs: Bizot, Digne, Garcia, Routh, Bogarde, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Guessand.

Man United XI: Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Sesko

Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Fredricson, Malacia, Mantato, Martinez, Fletcher, Lacey, Zirkzee.

The line-ups should be released in the next five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news…

Manchester United will be without the suspended Casemiro, as well as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui – who have all left for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are still out, so Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven could continue in defence.

Emiliano Martinez has missed Aston Villa’s last two matches due to injury but could return.

Jadon Sancho is ineligible to face his parent club and Pau Torres remains out for Aston Villa in defence with Victor Lindelof set to face his former side.

Aston Villa have won just one of their last 26 Premier League home games against Manchester United (drawn nine, lost 16).

That win was a 3-1 victory in November 2022 in Unai Emery’s first match in charge.

It could amount to a triumph of reason. Arsenal top the Premier League table after seeming to plan for every eventuality, fill in every gap in the squad, take care of every small detail.

Arsenal have the best defence, the fewest defeats, the reputation as the set-piece specialists. They are building a title challenge on the most solid of foundations.

Now, here’s some more insights from Emery who spoke about the schedule and having Villa’s players step up when needed.

“The challenge is to win each match, and everything we did is done, and we must be focused now, the next match only on Sunday,” Emery said.

“Of course, how we are managing the squad with the players and adding minutes with some players being normally in the bench is very important, because we must feel collectively, everything we need to perform collectively like we are doing.

“And how we are performing is not only because we have one starting 11 more or less being usually with the same players.

“We are changing, and we are trying to use different players, of course, in different competitions, but how they are responding makes me confident.”

The Aston Villa manager said: “Very difficult. Of course, it’s United. And United, not only for [their] history as well, how they are trying to build a team, and they are, this year, of course, trying to get [a] top position.

“They are performing very, very well away [from home], very well. And winning matches and performing and playing fantastic.

“At home, they are having some more problems than away, but I respect them a lot because their history, how they are performing, with the coach, new coach, last year and this year I think they are getting better.

“And with the players they have, they have very, very good players and offensively they are performing fantastic.

“And we are ready, but we are respecting them and we are being humble. Be humble, especially in this moment, we must be humble, to try to understand why we are performing like we are.”

Ruben Amorim believes there is a sense of entitlement that is holding Manchester United back as he accused players of forgetting what it means to play for the club.

Amorim told Kobbie Mainoo to stay and fight for his place, rather than leaving because he is not in the team, as he told some of United’s young players they need to alter their attitude while he claimed he is improving the culture of the club, even if results have not been good enough.

“Tyrone [Mings] is still injured,” added Unai Emery. “He’s getting better. Maybe, in a few weeks, he’s again joining us.

“Pau Torres, more or less, the same. One week or two weeks, something like that. Ross Barkley is still injured, longer than those two players.

“[Harvey] Elliott is sick today. He hasn’t trained today, or yesterday as well.”