Premier League fans are promised a feast on Saturday, but Sunday comes up painfully short.
Eight matches flood the fixture list in a frantic Saturday surge, only for the weekend to end with a solitary Sunday slot 24 hours later. Just one ground. One Premier League game. Aston Villa versus Manchester United at 4:30pm.
The absence is not accidental. It is Arsenal-induced.
With league and cup commitments converging, Arsenal asked for their match against Everton to be brought forward to allow sufficient recovery time. The Premier League approved the move, shifting the fixture to Saturday evening.
December is usually the most wonderful time of the year, unless you are a footballer. Then it is bah humbug.
What this means for United
As of late, kick-off times and fixture schedules have been far from kind to United and their fans. The last home game that was not an evening kick-off came against Sunderland on October 4.
Being the only televised game on Sunday brings its own pressure. Scrutiny surrounding United is often incessant, and this will only amplify matters. United will be looking for their third straight away win, though it will not be easy, with Aston Villa in high-flying form.
The Reds will have to get used to it, though, as it will be déjà vu on Boxing Day when United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00.
Traditionally, Boxing Day hosts a full complement of footballing fare, starting at midday and ending at nightfall, but this year it is the very opposite – United will be hoping to get their home form back on track.
United without three important players on Sunday
United will travel to Villa Park without Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are currently representing their national teams at AFCON.
Ruben Amorim has also said he will utilise the Academy to help bolster his depleted squad.
Amorim has, too, teased a formation change. Speaking ahead of the Bournemouth game, he said:
“Of course, we need to think about the future. We need to have more variety in our game. We are going to lose two wingers [to AFCON], so we need to adapt to the players we have and learn from some mistakes in the past.”
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In the second half, of that game, United switched to a back four. Is it a sign of things to come for Sunday?The adaptability may help United in the long run as they look to chase a top-four finish.
Casemiro is another name United will be without. The Brazilian international will serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Bournemouth on Monday, meaning Kobbie Mainoo could be handed a rare start after a classy cameo.
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