Follow live coverage as Aston Villa face Manchester United today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Aston Villa FC 0 - 0 Manchester United FC
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:35
Digne swings in a corner-kick from the right, which is headed away by Bruno Fernandes; then, Cash sees his follow-up delivery cleared. We've come to expect more from Villa's set-pieces, which have been various - and quite successful - for the past few seasons.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:34
When Digne makes a hash of clearing the ball inside his own area, Garnacho almost pounces, but Villa eventually scramble the way to safety. While Manchester United will be pleased with their opening half-hour, they are yet to produce a shot since Rashford's early effort.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:32
For once, United are caught out at the back, following a stray touch from Bruno Fernandes. Bailey reaches the right side of the penalty area, but his low cutback is too sharp for Barkley, who can't get a shot off and instead commits a foul on Evans.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:30
With Eriksen unable to put in a challenge, as he's already on a booking, Evans has to cover across and make a superbly timed tackle to steal the ball from Rogers. The latter has been Villa's main outlet so far, but he can't do it all alone.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:28
Standing far outside his area, Martinez tries to draw a few Manchester United players forward before releasing the ball upfield. Eventually, he makes his pass. It sums up the pedestrian pace of this encounter so far.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:26
Bruno Fernandes beats Barkley for pace and then draws a free-kick out on the left touchline. However, Eriksen's subsequent delivery is cleared away from danger by a Villa defender. Maguire initially headed the ball straight against Rogers' hand, but there was no question of a free-kick being awarded.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:24
CLOSE! On his first Premier League start, Philogene strides forward towards the area and is met with very little resistance. He lets fly with a firm strike that zips just a few feet wide of the right-hand post! That got the home fans off their seats!
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:21
Though they've overtaken their visitors in the Premier League's pecking order over the past few months, each of Villa's last four games against Manchester United have seen the Red Devils come out on top: Scott McTominay's late winner sunk the hosts at Villa Park in February's 2-1 win for Ten Hag's men.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:20
Perhaps this laboured start can be attributed to both teams' exertions in midweek. It's all very subdued at Villa Park, matching the grey gloom around Birmingham.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:18
The game's rhythm has been broken up by the delay for Konsa to leave the pitch, and neither side has been able to sustain any attacking momentum so far. Villa are shading the possession share: 54% to United's 46%.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:13
After losing two midfielders to injury in midweek, Aston Villa look like they are going to lose an integral defender. Konsa has stayed down on the turf and will need some medical attention - it doesn't look good for the England international.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:13
Substitution Ezri Konsa Ngoyo Diego Carlos Santos Silva
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:12
JUST WIDE! Watkins lays a pass off to Rogers on the brink of United's box, and the latter sidesteps Evans before lashing a powerful strike towards the target. It swerves narrowly wide of the right-hand post and thuds into the advertising boards behind Onana's goal!
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:10
Aston Villa are keeping control of possession at the moment, building cautiously from the back. They'll be aware that their opponents have been struggling defensively and chances to score should present themselves at some stage.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:08
SAVE! After Cash loses the ball and Villa fail to close down a gaping hole on their right, Rashford drives inside and tries his luck with a shot from just outside the area. It's too close to Martinez, though, and the big goalkeeper makes a straightforward save.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:04
While recent form suggests Aston Villa are favourites for this game, they have won just one of their last 25 Premier League home games against Manchester United, losing 16. That sole victory came in Emery’s first game in charge of the club, just under two years ago.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:04
Yellow Card Christian Dannemann Eriksen
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:03
Wearing white and black today, Manchester United kick off. We are under way in Birmingham!
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
14:01
The players are out on the pitch at Villa Park, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:58
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had his red card against Tottenham overturned, so he is free to start today. Evans and Maguire keep their places after finishing Thursday's draw against Porto; Martinez and De Ligt drop to the bench. The visitors also bring Mainoo back into their midfield but are still without Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro and Mason Mount due to injury.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:53
After a lengthy layoff, Cash returns to Aston Villa's back four today, as Emery makes three changes from the hosts' last Premier League outing. Diego Carlos is relegated to the bench, while Barkley comes in for injured midfielder Amadou Onana. Villa captain John McGinn is yet to overcome a thigh problem - he again joins long-term absentees Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings on the sidelines.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:48
SUBS: Altay Bayindir, Victor Lindelof, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Antony.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:48
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Andre Onana; Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Diogo Dalot; Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen; Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Rasmus Hojlund.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:43
SUBS: Joe Gauci, Diego Carlos, Jhon Duran, Emiliano Buendía, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Sil Swinkels, Kadan Young.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:43
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans; Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, Jaden Philogene; Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:38
By contrast with their hosts, Manchester United are winless in four games, following a dramatic 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League. The Red Devils blew a two-goal lead before salvaging a late point via Harry Maguire's last-gasp header in Portugal. A sub-par start to the season - featuring just three wins from their first 10 fixtures - leaves manager Erik ten Hag in a precarious position heading towards this month's international break. After a 3-0 home loss to Tottenham last week, his team occupy 14th place in the Premier League table.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:38
Last time out, Aston Villa pulled off an unlikely 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, repeating the scoreline from their triumph in the 1982 European Cup final. Super-sub Jhon Duran needed just nine minutes to make his mark after emerging from the bench, scoring the game's only goal to send Villa Park wild. Unai Emery's men now have six wins from their last seven matches, only failing to taste success in last week's 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town. The Villans sit fifth in the Premier League, and another win today would take them up into fourth place.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
13:38
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
12:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
