How Manchester United should line up vs Aston Villa in Premier League fixture

Manchester United must bounce back when taking on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Boxing Day.

United wanted to build on their spirited performance against Liverpool last weekend, but they stumbled to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against West Ham after goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.

That defeat meant United have now failed to score in four straight games for the first since autumn 1992 and Erik ten Hag's side have the challenge of playing Aston Villa next.

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Villa have been in excellent form this season and they currently sit in third position in the Premier League. Regarding the team news, Raphael Varane should be available again after missing the West Ham game due to illness.

So here's how our writers think United should start...

Samuel Luckhurst

United cannot make the wholesale changes that some of the recent performances have warranted but there can be at least two alterations in defence. Aaron Wan-Bissaka did next-to-nothing in attack, so Diogo Dalot should return and so should Raphael Varane, provided he has overcome his sniffle.

Kobbie Mainoo's error that led to Mohammed Kudus's goal should not overshadow what had hitherto been another accomplished performance. There is no balanced combination in midfield available to United but a different face is advisable, even if it comes at the expense of the top scorer.

Rasmus Hojlund is operating above what the brief of a 20-year-old from Atalanta should be at United but he has to continue. Marcus Rashford hardly endeared himself at West Ham but it would be tone-deaf to pick the same attacking quartet again.

Steven Railston

Ideally, plenty of changes would be