Ronaldo and Man United looking to spoil Emery’s Premier League return party at Old Trafford

Sitting fifth in the Premier League after beating West Ham last weekend, Manchester United will look to move into Champions League contention when they lock horns with Aston Villa.

Unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, Erik ten Hag’s side have been showing signs of improvement of late.

But as United edge closer to the top four, their opponents Aston Villa are desperately fighting to steer clear of the relegation zone.

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After losing seven league games, winning just three, and sacking manager Steven Gerrard, it’s time for the Villa Park faithful to turn to their new boss for some hope.

Former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is back in England’s top flight and vows to mould the Villans into shape, but given other new managers’ records against United, his first game will be no walk in the park.

Including caretakers, each of the last nine managers whose first league game at a club came against Manchester United has lost, with Alan Curbishley at West Ham in December 2006 the last to emerge victorious.

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If Emery is to write his own piece of history this Sunday, he’ll have to find a way of keeping Man United’s Portuguese superstar quiet.

Against no side has Cristiano Ronaldo scored more Premier League goals than he has against Aston Villa (8).

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The Portuguese has been involved in 11 goals in his last eight starts against them in the competition (8 goals, 3 assists).

Can Manchester United spoil Unai Emery’s Premier League return?

talkSPORT EDGE takes a look…

• Aston Villa won four points against Manchester United last season (W1 D1), as many as they had in their previous 17 league games against them (W0 D4 L13)

• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 23 Premier League away games against Aston Villa (W15 D8), since a 3-1 loss on the opening day of the 1995-96 campaign. It’s the longest unbeaten away run one team has had against another in English league history

• Aston Villa won 4-0 against Brentford in their last Premier League home game, but they’ve not won consecutive matches at Villa Park within the same season since January 2021

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• Aston Villa have lost 13 of their last 14 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top six of the table (D1), conceding 33 goals in the process. However, their last such win was at third placed Manchester United in September 2021

• Man Utd are unbeaten in their last five league games, alternating between a win (3) and a draw (2) each time. Five of the Red Devils’ seven league wins this season have been by a one-goal margin, including all three away from home

• No side has conceded fewer second half goals than Manchester United in the Premier League this season (5), with a league-high 69% of the Red Devils’ goals conceded coming in the opening 45 minutes (11/16)