Manchester United need Christian Eriksen to break new ground vs Aston Villa

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With Bruno Fernandes unavailable due to suspension, Manchester United need fellow midfield maestro Christian Eriksen to break new ground against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils travel to Villa Park to face the Villains who will have Unai Emery in charge for the first time, in what is our penultimate Premier League match before the domestic season pauses for the World Cup in Qatar.

The clash against Villa will be first of two matches between the two sides across five days.

Following Sunday’s league game, the Birmingham-based outfit head to Old Trafford on Thursday night for a Carabao Cup third-round clash.

Manchester United need Christian Eriksen to break new ground vs Aston Villa

As Eriksen once again showed in the 1-0 win against West Ham United, his ability to conjure up a moment of brilliance is proving a priceless commodity.

It was the 30-year-old’s teasing cross that invited Marcus Rashford to go and power home his 100th goal for the twenty-time league champions.

Eriksen now has three Premier League assists to his name, two of which have been laid on to Rashford, and five across all competitions.

The 30-year-old is leading the way in United’s assist charts, but Sunday’s trip to Villa will be the first time Eriksen has played in the Premier League under Erik ten Hag without Fernandes by his side.

With Fernandes missing out through a one-game suspension after picking up his fifth Premier League yellow card of the season against the Hammers, Ten Hag may deploy Eriksen further forward in the Portuguese’s attacking midfielder position as opposed to operating in his normal deep-lying playmaker role.

But with the former Sporting Lisbon captain unavailable, Eriksen will be United’s chief creator, but he’ll have to do something he’s never done during his career as of yet against Villa to unlock Emery’s defence.

In his six matches against Villa, United’s number 14 is yet to register a goal or an assist against them.

The Danish playmaker possesses the creativity and vision to play the last pass before his teammate provides the assist, but with Fernandes unable to contribute, the former Brentford star is going to have to shoulder the majority of the creativity that missing Fernandes brings.

Eriksen has been in fine form since joining the Reds on a free transfer and hopefully that continues on Sunday with yet another inspired performance from the Scandinavian magician.