Image source, Getty Images

A ripple of noise around Villa Park, the sound of Leon Bailey running at a defender.

This time he tries to feed Moussa Diaby on the overlap but his pass is a tad too heavy and the ball goes out of play.

Sheffield United ain't really had a kick so far.

Aston Villa suppoters are well and truly in the Christmas spirit at Villa Park...

Image source, Getty Images

All Villa, as you probably expected it would be. The home side launch the ball forward but Ollie Watkins can't get there before Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham.

Aston Villa play Manchester United on Boxing Day this year. History repeating itself?

Ah. Not this time as Lucas Digne tries a curler which, well, doesn't curl that much and goes straight out of play.

Ooooh, nice turn from Moussa Diaby, who spins away from Auston Trusty, catches the defender's leg, and wins his side an early wide free-kick.

Villa will have a great early chance.

Villa are happy to pass the ball around. Sheffield United are happy to sit off.

A pattern is already emerging. This may be a nervy night for both sets of supporters.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

The smell of gunpowder is heavy at Villa Park after the pre-match fireworks - now we wait to see sparks fly on the pitch.

The noise and atmosphere here is already feverish, and could get even more frenetic should the hosts make a good start.

Sheffield United, all in yellow, get us going.

One final stat for you before we get going.

Sheffield United have had the fewest shots (142) and the lowest xG (13) of any Premier League side so far this season. As it stands, their 8.4 shots-per-game is the lowest on record (since 1997-98) of any side in a single Premier League campaign.

3-0 win incoming then!

Both sets of players are in the tunnel and are about to be greeted by a cracking atmosphere.

My biggest concern with their squad would be their depth in forward positions, particularly as back-up to their leading scorer Ollie Watkins, who has started all 17 of their league games so far.

Watkins is such an integral part of what they do, and I am not sure how they would cope without him, although it is noticeable that Villa have done a good job of keeping most of their key players fit so far.

They will also have the chance to bring in some reinforcements when the January transfer window opens, and it is going to be interesting to see what happens then.

Right now, they are doing everything right and, as well winning themselves, they had a great weekend with two of the other teams in the top four, Liverpool and Manchester City both dropping points.

Looks ace! Hi Ho Silver Lining plays in the background by the way.

If Villa win the title, could Jeff Beck get the 2024 Christmas number one?

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

We are witnessing what Villa are calling the Premier League's "first ever mobile phone light show".

Supporters were encouraged to scan a QR code before kick-off, which has synced their phones to flash lights along with music.

It looks pretty good, in fairness.

Wes Foderingham starts tonight. Here's a reminder of the teams...

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Ben Meakin, BladesPod, external

Wes Foderingham made a game-sealing error against Chelsea, just weeks after a nightmare moment against Bournemouth that effectively put the game out of reach – sparking further debate about his position as United’s number one.

The headline numbers are not pretty for Foderingham: he did keep his first clean sheet of the season last week, but has seen 43 shots fly, slide, squirm and slip into the back of his net already this year – seven more goals than any other team have conceded.

However, I am happy to put forward a defence of Wes – largely because he has not had much of one in front of him so far. He is the only keeper in the Premier League to have faced more than 100 shots on target. His save percentage of 65% is 12th out of 18 keepers who have played more than 10 games, but what about the quality of the chances he’s facing?

The average post-shot xG (expected goals) of each shot on target Foderingham has faced is the second-highest mark in the league, behind only Luton’s Thomas Kaminski (as per FB Ref analytics, external). In other words, not only does Wes face the most shots on target – those shots are generally from clearer chances (or better strikes) than every other keeper bar one.

He has not been a shot-stopping sensation – but he has been fine. Subtracting the actual goals conceded from the post-shot xG of all shots faced puts him above some much bigger names like Ederson, David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale, and Robert Sanchez.

A better keeper might have conceded a couple of goals less, or perhaps not made the mistakes mentioned at the top. However, unless United can address the sheer volume of quality shots their keeper is facing, it’s almost a moot point who is in net.

Foderingham was superb behind a competent defence in the Championship last year, and he can be again either back in that league next season or should United tighten up this campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Neville
Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

It looks like Chris Wilder has gone back to that system that took Sheffield United to ninth in the Premier League with five at the back.

Aston Villa might have to be patient for the first half an hour here.

We're getting a lot of first-time texters tonight which is always lovely to see. Welcome to the club!

Anon: Supported villa all my life. Just at the dentist in Bogota, Colombia hoping to get my teeth fixed in time for the second half… up the Villa!