Aston Villa vs. Manchester United: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Louis van Gaal has turned things around for Manchester United. After a stuttering start, the Dutchman's team has won six league matches in a row.
That run has propelled the Red Devils to third, very different to the recent form of Van Gaal's next opponent, Paul Lambert's Aston Villa. The Midlands club has won just three of its last 13 Premier League games.
The Villans are also in some turmoil after the exit of assistant manager Roy Keane and rumours of training-ground dissent. But Lambert's squad still boasts talent, particularly in the form of striker Christian Benteke.
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The beefy Belgian will need to be at his very best if Villa are going to spring an upset.
Here are all of the schedule and viewing details:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014
Time: 3 p.m. (GMT)/10 a.m. (ET)
TV: Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday Updates)/NBCSN
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra.
Preview
Villa will be facing a United side that is currently making the most of its chances, as statistics from Opta Joe help prove:
In fact, those numbers are an indication of two things. First, they are evidence of the ruthless efficiency and genuine class Van Gaal's squad boasts in forward areas.
That can't be too much of a surprise when considering he can field Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in the same attack. But another forward-thinking player has also made a significant impact recently.
Wonderfully gifted Spanish pass-master Juan Mata made a slow start to his United career after being unceremoniously ditched by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho back in January.
However, Mata's considerable natural talent is now starting to show on a regular basis. In fact, the 26-year-old is even outperforming Stamford Bridge ace Eden Hazard.
That's according to Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst, who cites Opta stats that make the case:
"For every 158 minutes it has taken Hazard to either score a goal or provide an assist in the Premier League since Mata's move, it has taken Mata 21 minutes less to do the same, scoring a goal or making an assist every 137 minutes.
Mata's goals have secured seven points for United this campaign and he claimed two winners against Crystal Palace and Stoke during the Reds' six-game winning run.
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Mata is certainly a great fit for Van Gaal's possession-based game. He's helping redefine United's build-up play and overall style. The Spaniard has also not lost his knack for making decisive contributions in the final third.
Speaking of decisive, no United player has embodied that quality more this season than goalkeeper David de Gea. If the form of the Mata-Rooney-Van Persie trio goes halfway to explaining those numbers, De Gea's stunning recent performances do the rest.
The ex-Atletico Madrid stopper is making a habit of bailing United out of trouble and preserving points with a string of impressive saves. De Gea was the catalyst in 2-1 wins over Everton, Stoke City and Arsenal. He also recently frustrated Liverpool who pushed United far closer than the 3-0 scoreline suggests.
Having a match-winner at the back explains why United haven't crumbled even when their opponents have been on the front foot more often.
De Gea's brilliance is putting pressure on opposing teams to make every chance count against a group of players who have been unerring in front of goal recently. However, Villa may just be ready to play with the pressure off now that Keane has left.
Keane's determination to refute suggestions he clashed with Villa players has stretched to reportedly harassing on-loan United midfielder Tom Cleverley at his home.
Apparently Keane, himself a former United midfield man, was less than impressed by Cleverley's claims, per The Sun (h/t Birmingham Mail reporter Steve Wollaston):
"Keane lives close by to the gated residence where England international Cleverley lives and the paper reports that he is thought to have been caught on Cleverley's CCTV.
In a twist to the story, the paper also reveals that Keane now believes that it wasn't Cleverley who was behind the rumours of a bust-up and is now looking at another culprit.
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This farce must surely be an unwanted distraction for Lambert, a manager in need of a win. At least some of his players appear confident. Among them is full-back Aly Cissokho who welcomes the chance to upset United, per AVFC.co.uk editor Paul Brown.
Despite Cissokho's confidence however, Villa seem set for more disappointment.
Prediction: Villa 1-2 United
The Red Devils are turning producing narrow away wins into an art form. A confident Rooney and Van Persie will lead the way for a team fit to burst with goal potential.
Another win for United will also mean it's time to start taking them seriously in this season's title race.
