BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has dropped a bold Premier League prediction for the forthcoming clash between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Manchester United face another tough test in their race to finish in the Premier League top four, with Erik ten Hag’s men returning to action on Sunday.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions and have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup after their win over Newport County.
United have won back-to-back Premier League matches this month, having beaten Wolves 4-3 away from home before a 3-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s side are currently sixth in the Premier League table after 23 matches, with the Red Devils eight points adrift from fourth-place Villa ahead of their showdown.
Sutton impressed by one Man Utd star
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has turned the tide back in his favour this season after overcoming his initial Premier League goalscoring drought.
The 21-year-old Denmark international went his first 14 Premier League matches without scoring before finding the back of the net against Aston Villa last December.
Hojlund has scored in his last four matches across all competitions, with the Danish striker finding the back of the net against both Wolves and West Ham in the league.
Speaking in his BBC Sport column, Chris Sutton insisted that former Atalanta man Hojlund is “one of the reasons” that Erik ten Hag is so “positive” ahead of the match.
“Manchester United impressed me in their win over West Ham with the control they had of that game – we have not seen that from them very often recently,” he said.
“People are saying they are getting back to their best form and when Erik ten Hag spoke afterwards, he was as upbeat as I’ve heard him be all season.
“Rasmus Hojlund is one of the reasons Ten Hag is so positive. He played well, and again took his goal well.”
Sutton’s prediction for Aston Villa vs Man Utd
Sutton has raised concerns for United after the devastating injury blow to Lisandro Martinez, who was forced off the pitch in his side’s win over West Ham.
The BBC and TNT Sports pundit believes that Villa will win 2-1 at Villa Park, with Sutton claiming that the knee injury to Martinez is a “big loss” to United.
“This is a very different test, however, even if Aston Villa have lost their past two home games, firstly against Newcastle and then to Chelsea in the FA Cup,” Sutton continued.
“Villa are not out of the title race yet and I am backing them to respond.
“While I think Manchester United will score, Lisandro Martinez’s injury is a big loss for them at the back.”
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