United’s injury problems are easing but Martin O’Neill’s promise to attack the champions seems wise, particularly given the form of Villa’s forwards. That said, it will very much depend on what Villa side turn up; the defeat of Portsmouth in the Carling Cup was their first victory on the road since September. Struggling for goals away from home coupled with United’s almost impenetrable domestic home form, having dropped only two points at Old Trafford this term, emphasises the magnitude of Villa’s task. Lee Price

Venue Old Trafford Tickets Sold out Last season Man Utd 3 Aston Villa 2 Referee M Atkinson

This season’s matches 12 Y49, R0, 4.08 cards per game

sportingbet odds Man Utd 4-9 Aston Villa 21-4 Draw 3-1

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Nani, Obertan, Gibson, Berbatov, Owen, Welbeck, Tosic, Hewson, Eikrem, De Laet

Injured Van der Sar (knee, 19 Dec), Rafael (knee, 19 Dec), Brown, Fábio (both hamstring, 19 Dec), Ferdinand (calf, 19 Dec), Hargreaves (knee, 19 Dec), Evans (calf, Jan), O’Shea (thigh, Jan)

Suspended None Form guide WWWLWL

Disciplinary record Y26 R2

Leading scorer Rooney 11

Aston Villa

Subs from Guzan, Delph, Sidwell, Reo-Coker, Beye, Gardner, Collins, Carew, Albrighton, Delfouneso

Doubtful None

Injured Davies (shoulder, Jan), Bouma (ankle, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WDDWLD

Disciplinary record Y31 R2

Leading scorer Agbonlahor 7

Match pointers

• Villa’s last league win against United was in August 1995, inspiring the Alan Hansen quote “You’ll never win anything with kids”. Since then United have won 20 and drawn seven of their 27 league meetings

• Martin O’Neill’s side are the only team in the Premier League not to have lost a game against the current top 10 in the table this season

• Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in his last five league starts against Aston Villa

• Aston Villa have scored eight goals from corners, a league high

Premier LeagueManchester UnitedAston Villaguardian.co.uk