Man United vs. Aston Villa
Venue: Old Trafford
Kick off: 3pm
Aston Villa’s fate is likely to be mathematically sealed on Saturday as they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.
The Villans go into the tie 15 points from safety, with as many left to play for this season, while United will look to get their top-four push back on track.
While their season doesn’t compare to the misery Aston Villa fans have had to endure over the last seven months, United have also suffered a hugely disappointing campaign in 2015-16.
Expected to push on from their return to the top four last season, they once again find themselves embroiled in a battle just to make the Champions League – a battle they look like losing.
Four points is the gap to local rivals Manchester City in the final top-four spot after United’s slip-up against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, when they conceded three goals in the space of six second-half minutes to fall to their first defeat at White Hart Lane since 2001.
It was a sign of both how far Spurs have come and United have fallen in recent seasons, yet against all the odds and despite persistent reports suggesting otherwise, Louis van Gaal remains in the job at Old Trafford.
His tactics were once again questioned last weekend when he brought Ashley Young on to play as the main striker in the second half, leaving Anthony Martial out on the left flank.
The result was their only defeat in their last six games, but they did return to form on Wednesday night to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at West Ham United’s expense.
Another goal from Marcus Rashford, in addition to a Marouane Fellaini strike and more heroics from David de Gea, saw Man Utd win 2-1 in the last ever FA Cup game at the Boleyn Ground, setting up a Wembley showdown with Everton next weekend as they look to win the trophy for the first time since 2004.
Today looks set to be the date that confirms what has been expected for a long time – Aston Villa will be relegated from the Premier League for the first time ever.
Their fate is not yet mathematically sealed, but realistically they are already dead and buried, with 15 points left to play for this season and 15 points also the gap to Norwich City in 17th.
Villa’s dreadful goal difference means that the gap is effectively 16 points, and they could even be relegated before they kick off on Saturday should Norwich avoid defeat in the early match against Sunderland at Carrow Road.
Man United possible starting lineup: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Mata, Rooney, Martial, Rashford.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Guzan, Bacuna, Lescott, Clark, Cissokho, Sinclair, Sanchez, Gueye, Westwood, Richardson, Ayew.