Youri-Tielemans
Aston Villa have a chance to banish their Old Trafford hoodoo on Sunday afternoon and put paid to a six-game losing streak away against Manchester United.
This is an exciting time to be a member of the Villa persuasion, with Unai Emery having successfully rebuilt his Europa League-winning superteam, much of which was disassembled and sold this summer.
REUTERS/Paul Childs
Emery and his new-look squad would be forgiven for suffering this season, but they already look like a force to be reckoned with, and there's every chance they can defeat a Man United side who are all over the place right now.
Why Aston Villa can end Old Trafford losing streak
Old Trafford and Michael Carrick were buoyed by the Red Devils' dramatic turnaround win over Roma in the Champions League in midweek, but Emery will know that this club are weak and soft when pressured. For much of the game against the Italians, they flattered to deceive.
Aston Villa might have lost Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers and Manchester United's Youri Tielemans and more, but they look like they are on their way to the top once again.
REUTERS/Chris Radburn
Tielemans, for example, served the Midlands club well, but United paid £35m to secure his signature this summer, and there's no question that a more intense and mobile midfield is being fashioned in the 29-year-old Belgian's absence.
Winning the midfield battle will be crucial for the Villa, but they showed away against Newcastle United last month that they have the aggression and verve to batter down a flimsy Man United centre.
It would be a stunning win, one which would mark six Premier League games unbeaten and would secure a foothold on the horizon of the top of the table.
However, Emery might want to make a change from last weekend's Villa Park draw against Fulham, unleashing the new Tielemans.
Why Aston Villa must unleash the new Tielemans
Tielemans isn't coming back, but Aston Villa don't really need him anymore - even with Amadou Onana sidelined since the summer with a long-term knee injury.
Instead, Aston Villa have the likes of Leon Goretzka and Johan Manzambi forming different edges of the midfield triangle, but it's actually Joao Gomes who could make the biggest difference on Sunday, and he needs to return to the starting line-up at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old Brazilian joined Villa from relegated Wolves this summer in a deal worth £38m. He brought with him a combative midfield style and a reputation for being one of the most unrelenting ball winners in England.
Last season for Wolves, Gomes finished behind only Everton's James Garner for tackles won in the Premier League. Garner played all 38 games, whereas Gomes missed five matches throughout the campaign.
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Premier League 25/26 - Top Tacklers
Player
James Garner
Joao Palhinha
Joao Gomes
Mateus Fernandes
Tyrick Mitchell
Adrien Truffert
Tielemans, of course, was also welcomed from a quasi-rival in Leicester City. His contract had expired in 2023, when the Foxes had plummeted into the Championship, and his move to Villa proved an auspicious one, going on to play an instrumental part in lifting the Europa League and securing two separate tickets into the Champions League.
Some would argue Goretzka's composure and experience, his quality on the ball, would be beneficial against Man United's midfield, but Gomes would stamp unforgiving authority on the likes of Andrey Santos and Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. Carlos Baleba won't be able to challenge Gomes' physicality, for he is injured.
Gomes didn't have the strongest game against Barcelona in midweek, giving away the ball for Lamine Yamal's early opener, but it was a learning curve for this new-look squad, and that game does not negate the strengths he would bring against a United team lacking Barca's style and panache and technicality.
Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Gomes and Tielemans differ as midfielders, but there's no question that the Brazil international has the potential to effectively replace Man United's composed head in midfield.
This is a game for energy and intensity. This is a game for a midfielder such as Gomes to overwhelm his opponents and create space for the forwards to pounce.