Aston Villa-Manchester United: Make or Break for Red Devils?

Manchester United take on high-flying Aston Villa this weekend at Villa Park. Will it be a make or break clash for the Red Devils? Currently, United sit in third place on the Barclays Premier League ladder but trail pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool by a considerable eight points. This is a must win for last year's champions.

Both teams come into the match on highs after United comprehensively beat Stoke City 5-0 and Aston Villa secured all three points against Arsenal with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

Manchester United have a game in hand, but even if they were to win that (against Fulham), they would still find themselves five points behind the two leaders—who sit on 32 points at this stage in the season. United have not started the season in the way they would have liked to, but they are slowly creeping their way up the table.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, find themselves level on 23 points with the Gunners, but Arsene Wenger's men lead on goal difference. Villa's Ashley Young claims that they have no fear of Manchester United and have nothing to lose.

If United were beaten by Villa this weekend, they may be all but out of the title race. Chelsea and Liverpool really don't look like dropping points. The pair have produced some magnificent results this season, although both were unexpectedly knocked out of the Carling Cup last week, by Burnley and Tottenham respectively.

Chelsea face 17th-place Newcastle this weekend at Stamford Bridge, and Liverpool take on Fulham at home at Anfield. Both teams should register wins, but you cannot speak too soon in the top flight. The Gunners have been handed a tricky away fixture against Manchester City, which could also be a make or break clash for Arsenal too.

It is possibly going to be the turning point of the season this weekend, with a must win for United. The Red Devils have to secure all three points in order to stay within touching distance of Chelsea and Liverpool.