Need to know
Aston Villa beat Manchester United at Villa Park to leave Ruben Amorim's side seventh in the Premier League table before they host Newcastle United at Old Trafford
Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu look dejected
Manchester United lost 2-1 to Aston Villa(Image: PA)
Everything you need to know about Manchester United's next five fixtures and their rivals following the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa...
Newcastle up next: Ruben Amorim's side return to action against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day before hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 December.
New year schedule: January begins with a trip across the Pennines to play Leeds United on the 4th before Burnley also host them three days later. United then host Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup third round before league action resumes with the season's second Manchester derby, when City visit Old Trafford.
Liverpool watch: The Reds host Wolves next up before welcoming Leeds to Anfield on New Year's Day.
Slot's London challenge: Liverpool face Fulham in their first away game of 2026, and then face Arsenal four days later. Then, in the FA Cup third round, they host Barnsley, before league matters resume with the visit of Burnley.
Chelsea face Villa: The Blues begin a demanding festive schedule by hosting Aston Villa on 27 December and then welcoming Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge three days later.
New Year challenge: 2026 starts with a visit to play City on 4 January, before facing local rivals Fulham three days later. That is the first of three fellow London clubs they play, travelling across the capital to face Charlton Athletic on 10 January during the FA Cup third-round weekend, before hosting Brentford in the league a week later.
Sunderland watch: The Black Cats end this year by hosting Leeds on 28 December and then welcome City on New Year's Day. They then visit Tottenham Hotspur on 4 January before going away to Brentford three days later.
Premier League picture: Losing to Villa leaves United seventh in the table on 26 points. That total is one off Sunderland, but three behind Chelsea and Liverpool.