United get to the corner first but Aston Villa aren't retreating.

John McGinn and Jack Grealish work the ball nicely in midfield, though McGinn can't find the last pass into the box.

It's United stuck in their own half for the time being.

Good chances for both these sides in the opening stages.

Aston Villa have settled on the ball now following United's early dominance, and Douglas Luiz sends a really nice cross towards Anwar El Ghazi which forces Aaron Wan-Bissaka to put the ball out for a corner...

Manchester United come again after that first wake-up call and almost have the opener!

Right-back Aaron Wan Bissaka pulls the ball back towards Paul Pogba on the edge of the penalty area, but Pogba gets a shout and lets it roll into the path of Fred who sends a great strike narrowly over the crossbar.

David de Gea is called into action for the first time this evening as John McGinn floats into the box and meets a cross with a decent volley.

It's travelling towards the bottom corner, but De Gea is on his toes and dives well to his right.

Aston Villa get the corner, but they can't make anything of it on this occasion.

Harry Maguire meets the set-piece for Manchester United as he moves clear of his marker, but his weak header is comfortably collected by Emi Martinez.

United are getting closer...

A great stop by Emi Martinez keeps it goalless!

Anthony Martial cuts onto his right foot on the edge of the penalty area and unleashes a powerful shot, but it's hit close enough to Martinez and he sends it over for a corner.

Ezri Konsa intercepts just as the hosts begin to threaten again.

Matty Cash then releases Ollie Watkins with a long ball over the top but Harry Maguire deals with the problem comfortably enough.

Over 70% possession for United so far.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Sir Alex Ferguson was amongst those standing in tribute to fellow Scot Tommy Docherty att Old Trafford before kick-off.

Docherty's place in United folklore is well-earned. He brought the club back to prominence after dealing with the exits of the club's 'Holy Trinity' of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, then denied Liverpool the Treble with the 1977 FA Cup Final win.

Docherty's teams were always good to watch and had it not been for his dismissal for a well-publicised affair, United's wait for a league title might have ended a lot earlier than it actually did.

Paul Pogba produces several step-overs as he tries to bamboozle Matty Cash.

The Frenchman creates enough space for a cross from the left but it travels high and over the players waiting in the middle.

The hosts will build again though as they look to continue this bright start...

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Grealish is left frustrated as he concedes a free-kick while trying to win the ball back in the United half.

Villa haven't been able to put any pressure on the United defence so far.

Fred regains possession for Manchester United in midfield as the hosts begin with plenty of energy.

Straight away United have half a chance as Bruno Fernandes forces Emi Martinez to push the ball to safety with a cross from the left.

Lively start by United.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

The talk is all about Manchester United's attempt to join Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

But don't forget about Aston Villa.

Victory tonight will take them third - an amazing turnaround from their relegation scrap last season - and they beat United in a pre-season friendly, so they will fancy their chances.

After a minute of silence for Tommy Docherty, we're up and running at Old Trafford.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Shaw, Bailly, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Pogba, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Martial, Rashford.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, El Ghazi, Traore, Watkins.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Those three victories came in 1992, 1995 and 2009.

Number four to arrive in 2021?

The players are on the pitch and we're about to find out...

David De Gea now stands alone as the player with the fifth most Premier League appearances for Manchester United, as he moves on to 327 - one more than Roy Keane.

Meanwhile, this will be Douglas Luiz's 50th Premier League appearance for Villa.

Stephen Warnock
Ex-Leeds and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Edinson Cavani has brought that extra bit of experience in, almost like (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic did when he came in, and you can see the young players are thriving off him.

They will miss him. The big thing for me, what a lot of people don’t understand, is the influence players like him have in the changing room.

Talking to the younger players, even at half-time and being able to have a chat with Rashford or Greenwood and saying 'try this run, have you seen this is happening?'

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes a change in his players' mentality has helped them climb to second in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have taken 23 points from their past nine games.

"Everyone has realised they are privileged to be part of Manchester United - such a fantastic club with a fantastic history," said Solskjaer.

"When you are here, enjoy it as much as you can and maybe you'll experience some fantastic times."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has delivered an upbeat New Year message in the club's programme this evening.

Apart from lauding the progress he feels is being made under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Woodward has spoken about the club's Christmas community initiatives.

"This includes the provision of 80,000 meals for vulnerable children during the Christmas holidays, complementing the wider campaign against child food poverty so inspirationally led by Marcus Rashford."

Everton

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti talking to BBC Sport: "The game was in the balance. We didn't have a lot of opportunities, they didn't have a lot of opportunities.

"It was not our best performance, we were a little bit slow. West Ham did a fantastic performance.

"We have to accept the result. It will be important to keep our belief high. We are more comfortable defending and using the counter attack. When we have the ball we have more difficulties and we have adjust this.

"We are in the position we would like to be and hopefully we can be there at the end of the season. That is our target."