Manchester United are looking to end a seven-game winless run in the Premier League by winning back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Fresh off a 3-2 win over Roma in the Champions League, Michael Carrick’s side are looking to win their first Premier League match since August. The best way to gain momentum to overcome a slump is by winning football matches consistently.

The next hurdle is Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. The Spanish coach has never won a game at Old Trafford – after nine attempts, including five as Villa boss. Carrick got the better of his upcoming opponent in March when United won 3-1 at Old Trafford.

Carrick can maintain his perfect record against Emery on Sunday. He will be forced to make at least one change to the team that beat Roma on Tuesday night, with Carlos Baleba ruled out with a lengthy injury.

Predicted Manchester United XI vs Chelsea

Villa will be without Matty Cash for their trip to Old Trafford, while former United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka faces a late fitness test ahead of kick-off. The reason for Cash’s absence is a one-match suspension following his fifth booking of the season in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Fulham.

Wan-Bissaka has been out of action since mid-October, missing Villa’s previous five matches, but is understood to be close to an eagerly awaited return. They are also without Matteo Ruggeri and Amadou Onana.

Here’s our predicted XI when the Reds host Villa.

Senne Lammens: This is United’s 10th league game of the season, and Lammens is still waiting for his first clean sheet of the season. Villa striker Nicholas Jackson will be trying to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Leny Yoro: It’s not ideal to be throwing Yoro in at right-back, but the defence is stretched right now, and I’d argue he defends better out of position than Dalot when played in his preferred role. He deserves his call-up to the France squad.

Harry Maguire: A mainstay in the team regardless of form. Carrick will keep playing Maguire, hoping that the experienced centre-back returns to the form he showed towards the end of last season before he signed a new one-year deal.

Ayden Heaven: With Lisandro Martinez suspended, Heaven is next in line. Especially with Carrick slowly easing Matthijs de Ligt back into the team. The young defender has a lot to prove after some sub-standard performances this season.

Diogo Dalot: The Portuguese full-back should count himself lucky if he starts against Villa because he was atrocious against Roma. It beggars belief that we haven’t seen more of Harry Amass this season. The academy graduate should start at left-back this weekend.

Andrey Santos: The injury to Baleba means Carrick is forced to shake things up in midfield. Santos is closer – in terms of profile – to being a defensive midfielder than Youri Tielemans. That will be required because Villa have players in attack that can hurt United, such as Johan Manzambi and Jackson. Whoever starts will need to protect a back four that has been clumsy this season.

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dancoombs

It’s a big opportunity for Santos, again. Although Tielemans played well in midweek and could be considered against his former club

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Shea Lacey: There are calls for Lacey to start ahead of Amad Diallo, and rightly so. The youngster made a big impact after coming off the bench against Roma with a match-winning assist for Matheus Cunha. I honestly believe Lacey would be a regular starter in most Premier League teams.

Bruno Fernandes: Back on the scoresheet midweek, Fernandes still looked downbeat at the full-time whistle. That doesn’t change the fact that United are still reliant on the Portuguese Magnifico. He can still change games even when he’s not playing at his best. Roma was an example of that.

Matheus Cunha: The Brazilian will be keen to build on his brace against Roma. He has scored four goals in 14 appearances for United so far this season.

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thetruthpersonified

Cunha changed the game when he was moved or decided to move from the wing to the centre. Not just his goals, he started being able to fight and dominate.

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Bryan Mbeumo: Unlucky not to score on Tuesday night when he hit both posts with a single shot. If he gets in behind Villa’s defence, he’ll need to make sure of his finishing, which has been questionable at times.

If the above predicted XI is accurate, Carrick will be making two changes from the team that came from behind to beat Roma. That includes Santos and Lacey instead of Baleba and Amad.