Manchester United VS Aston Villa

Manchester United, and Aston Villa two teams sitting in the top five of the Premier League table, No. 1 and No. 5 respectively, Two teams coming of disappointing losses, Manchester United lost to Fulham (after receiving a thumping from Liverpool), and Aston Villa lost to Liverpool.  

Manchester United

The team that led the form table every since their return from Japan, have all of a sudden fallen in slump, coming off two consecutive losses, and two losses away from losing the lead to Liverpool (taking into consideration the game in hand).

Manchester United has a lot to loose in the game against Aston Villa and I am sure Alex Ferguson knows what is in stake when they take on Man United.  

United will be missing Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and Nemaja Vidic to suspension, and Dimitar Berbatov to a ankle injury.  

This will guarantee a start for Carlos Tevez who has spent most of the season on the bench (in the EPL) but is capable of starting for any team.  Rio Ferdinand who had suffered from a back injury earlier in the week while training with England should be available to start along side 

Aston Villa

Aston Villa also has been in the top three of the form table for majority of the season and have also suffered lately, falling in a slump, not being able to win any of their past five league games, including a 5-0 thumping to Liverpool.

Aston Villa has a lot to play for this weekend at Old Trafford, as they are hoping to qualify for the Champions League next year (top four of the table).

They will be missing Emile Heskey who suffered a injury while playing for England last weekend, but are lucky to see the red card issued to Keeper Brad Friedel reversed by the FA.


Predictions

Both teams have a lot to play for, Aston Villa's record at Old Trafford in the past is not that promising, but this year's team will work hard to change that.  Aston Villa held Manchester United to a scoreless tie when the teams met earlier this season at Villa Park.

Both teams will be missing key players, but they have players who can step in and fill their shoes.

Final score, IMO, will be 2-1 in favor of Manchester United, late winner scored by Carlos Tevez.

Regardless of what the final outcome is going to be, both teams are going to play their best and it should be a exciting game.