Predicted XI: [4-2-3-1] Kambwala to keep his place against Villa? Mainoo to start again? Hojlund to lead the line?

On Boxing Day, Manchester United will host Aston Villa at the Theatre of Dreams in the Premier League. After United’s elimination from both the UEFA Champions League and the Carabao Cup, Erik ten Hag will need to improve the team’s league performance at home.

Villa may be disappointed if United prevail over them because they lost their opportunity to take the lead in the league on Friday night following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United. But Villa’s form has drastically transformed under Unai Emery as they aim to win.

It should be a good match on Boxing Day evening with both teams likely to put on a good display of their ability, with United so far underachieving this season. The January transfer window is upon us and I am sure players will be linked to the club but United need injured players back first!

Predicted Manchester United Starting XI – 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Onana

This season, Andre Onana is in serious trouble at United. It nearly seems as though he is a player who has been put in goal as a stand-in goalkeeper until the team signs a new player. Both the goals he has given up and the errors he has made this season are alarming.

Onana must quickly and firmly establish the United objective. Although United’s two-goal defeat to the Hammers in a short period of time on Saturday was concerning, it is not the only weak point on the field right now. They are currently unable to score a goal for love or money. It must quickly alter.

The Cameroonian goalkeeper will be playing in the African Cup of Nations in approximately three weeks, so Ten Hag will need to make a decision between Altay Bayindir or Tom Heaton in goal – both of whom have not played a single minute of football so far this season. Terrible times.

Defenders: Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Kambwala, Shaw

Raphael Varane’s illness kept him out of United’s match against West Ham, which means that the defensive issue will persist. He might also be absent for Villa’s Boxing Day fixture. Due to surgery, Victor Lindelof will not be able to play, and Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire are still out.

Ultimately, this is a positive thing because it means that United will have to consider their young in order to bolster the defense. Willy Kambwala and Jonny Evans might once more play together in the middle of defense. The 19-year-old might be very good versus Villa after showing well against the Hammers.

With the absence of Diogo Dalot because of his red card against Liverpool, he missed the West Ham match. But Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw will be the starting players in the fullback positions against Villa. Rhys Bennett was drafted on the bench – and could stay there.

Midfield: Mainoo, McTominay

The midfield is a problem area for United too. Christian Eriksen returned against West Ham and could strengthen the midfield in the next few matches. Casemiro will be back in the New Year, so will Mason Mount and United will be much stronger with these midfielders back in the squad.

But against Villa, United may need to start Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay once again, who have both played well this season with Mainoo looking very much the player he needs to be at United in a first team scenario. In time he will get so much better. What a talent.

Ten Hag will have Sofyan Amrabat and Eriksen to fall back on if changes need to be made – and they will. United’s midfield should be so much better than it is but players form and injuries have taken a massive toll on the squad. Something is not quite right and it needs to be fixed and fast.

Attacking Midfield: Garnacho, Fernandes, Antony

These positions are a major problem for Ten Hag and United this season. These positions should be creating and scoring goals, but in the last four matches, United have not scored a single goal and the chances they have had have not been that great either. Some should have resulted in goals though.

Alejandro Garnacho may have started on the right against Villa, like he did against West Ham. Antony was a left winger, but he was not very good there. He ought to be accomplishing far more given the cash United paid for his transfer in the summer of 2021. He’s a flap at the moment.

Another player not leading the team is Bruno Fernandes. Although he has had excellent results since joining the team in January 2020, as the club captain this season, I am expecting more from him. United is failing because they are not performing up to par. Something has to change.

Forward: Hojlund

Rasmus Hojlund is a talented young striker and it is impressive what he has done for United this season, but only scoring in the UEFA Champions League, a competition that United have now exited and it all means nothing. The Premier League has been a problem for him – that needs to change.

Throughout his professional career, the Danish international has scored 32 goals at club level while playing for FC Copenhagen, Sturm Graz, Atalanta, and United. He has also scored seven goals in ten appearances for his country. Although the stats are not outstanding, it is a start for the young striker.

Hojlund is expected to develop into a predatory striker similar to Erling Haaland, who has led Manchester City to unprecedented success in the Premier League. Having said that, a striker with goal-scoring skill cannot accomplish it all by themselves. He needs inventiveness behind him, and United hasn’t shown it yet.

Substitutes: Bayindir; Reguilon, Dalot, Bennett; Amrabat, Gore, Hannibal; Rashford, Pellistri

United will have nine players on the bench against Villa at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. Bayindir will be the goalkeeper on the bench – despite the poor form Onana is in right now. In defence, Sergio Reguilon, Dalot and Bennett will be Ten Hag’s options due to illness and injury.

Many of United’s first team players are not performing up to par in the midfield, which is a serious issue. Right now, a lot of them appear incapable of performing basic tasks. The manager may choose to start Amrabat, Daniel Gore, or Hannibal versus Villa.

United’s offensive line is beset by serious issues. It’s possible that the only bench possibilities against Villa are Marcus Rashford and Facundo Pellistri. However, it’s possible that other players—like Joe Hugill, Omari Forson, or others—are starting from the bench.

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