Pundits predict if 'drained' Aston Villa can bring about the end of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

Aston Villa play Manchester United next in the Premier League, with Erik ten Hag under intense pressure to get a positive result - do the pundits believe he can do it?

Aston Villa's attentions must quickly divert back to the Premier League with a high-pressure clash with Manchester United the final task before the international break.

Two clubs in two extremely contrasting moments do battle at Villa Park on Sunday (2pm). The hosts are fresh from experiencing their first home Champions League match in over four decades, defeating six-time winners Bayern Munich no less, and are once again comfortably in the running at this early stage for the Premier League's top four.

And Villa's position is one the visitors desire undoubtedly desire to be in, but instead Man United find themselves staring down the barrel of another managerial cycle coming to an end. Recent results and performances are claimed to have left Erik ten Hag teetering dangerously close to the sack, but is being backed at least for now to turn things around.

Old Trafford chiefs could change their perceptions depending on this next result, so do pundits believe United can get that all-important victory against high-flying Villa?

"The worry for Aston Villa is injuries," Chris Sutton began telling BBC Sport, citing Amadou Onana 'limping off' at the end against Bayern, Leon Bailey's substitution having been brought on himself for a hurt Jacob Ramsey during the first half, and lastly 'brilliant' Emi Martinez, who he claims looked to have a hamstring issue at full-time.

"But the main problem here is that I am writing this before Manchester United play Porto in the Europa League and, if they lose that, I may revisit my prediction for Sunday.

"If United are well beaten on Thursday, it could be the end for United boss Erik ten Hag if he also loses at Villa Park, especially if it is another bad defeat - the way you lose is important as well. If they get an absolute battering here, forget Erik ten Hag because it will be more like Erik ten minutes."

That match ended 3-3, with Villa's upcoming opponents ceding a two-goal lead in the first half, then Bruno Fernandes was sent off again before Harry Maguire was forced to rescue a point in the final minute.

So ultimately, the ex-Birmingham City striker offered the prediction of a 1-1 stalemate. He puts this down to the visitors' desperation partnered with Villa putting their all into beating Bayern Munich just days before.

"I just wonder if after all the emotion of Wednesday night, Aston Villa feel drained and find it hard to raise themselves again.

"The atmosphere will definitely not be the same as it was, at 2pm on a Sunday, and that will help United - as well as any Villa absentees, because they are stretched."

On the other hand, Paul Merson foresees a much brighter outcome for his former side. In his latest predictions for Sportskeeda he says Villa will run out 2-1 victors on Sunday.

"Match of the week, definitely. Aston Villa are coming off the back of the greatest result they've probably had in the last 30 years. Manchester United, on the other hand, are playing really bad football at the moment.

"But quite honestly, I think it is a good time for United to be playing Villa because of their midweek battle against Bayern Munich. Unai Emery's men left everything out there, then again it's still really difficult to look past anything but a win for Villa in this one.

"Emery is a great coach and all his players have improved so much under him. This is why I'm backing Villa to win this game."

Offering a further verdict whether United would prove to be competition for Villa in the top-four race, he wrote: "For me it's a three-way battle between Villa, Chelsea and Tottenham. Both United and Newcastle have fallen behind."

Will Villa beat Man United this weekend? Send your predictions HERE

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