The players are in the tunnel and Jon Champion is on the commentary for Amazon!

Oh to be a kid opening up Pro Evo Soccer 2008 at Christmas again...

Ollie Watkins has scored just once against Manchester United in eight fixtures.

It came at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup last year. United won that game, and tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Ally McCoist
Former Rangers striker & manager on Amazon Prime

Harry Kane is the main man for England, and will likely not be shifted for some time, but in terms of players coming up behind him in the line, Ollie Watkins is leading that queue at the minute.

He is confident, and at the moment he firmly believes that he is going to score in every game. He scores all types of goals, tap-ins, positions himself at the back post for headers, in at the goalkeepers for rebounds, can go into the channels by the side of defenders.

At the moment he is the real deal.

Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager on Amazon Prime

We haven't been able to see a stable centre back partnership yet at Man United this season.

A new goalkeeper arrived in the summer in Onana and he has not had that stability in front of him. There's been Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and others to have played there.

The experience of Varane back in the lineup today is essential. He has that composure, calmness. And alongside him against Bayern Munich we saw Evans come into the side and the pair of them 'clicked'. The understanding between them is clear.

Former Chelsea and England striker Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For the fixtures over the festive period on 26, 27 and 28 December, he takes on Samuel T Herring, frontman of Baltimore-based synth-pop band Future Islands and an Everton fan.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

It will be tight, but I think Aston Villa will win this game - and I don't see Manchester United scoring for what would be a fifth game in a row.

Manchester United have only managed 18 goals in 18 league games so far this season. Sheffield United are the only top-flight team to have scored fewer, which tells you Ten Hag's side have alarming problems in attack.

So why would anyone think that all of a sudden they are just going to flick a switch and thump someone? It is not as if they are creating loads of chances and missing unbelievable opportunities.

Villa are a well-balanced team and they are able to get results without being at their best. Their away form has not been as spectacular as their results at home, but they probably only need one goal to nick this.

Samuel's prediction: What Villa are doing is crazy, and they have got goals in them. 2-3.

Read all of Sutton's predictions here

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

It is just over four months since Edwin van der Sar suffered a frightening brain haemorrhage, not that long after he had left his position as chief executive of Ajax.

It is brilliant to see him at Old Trafford tonight and looking in good health.

I am pretty sure he will be having a chat with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag tonight, someone he clearly knows well, and also Andre Onana, the fellow goalkeeper he has expressed huge confidence in.

Van der Sar is not the only Dutch former United player in the directors' box tonight. Robin van Persie has just taken his seat.

Image source, BBC Sport

There's a roar around Old Trafford as the home players sprint down the tunnel after finishing their warm-up.

Here's a reminder of the teams. Marcus Rashford makes his first Manchester United start since early December.

Genuinely curious. Any neutrals out there who fancy Man Utd to win this?

Jon: I imagine Villa will face a similar challenge to Saturday v Sheffield United with a team parking the bus hoping for a smash and grab.

• Manchester United have won 38 of their 56 Premier League games against Aston Villa (D13 L5), the highest win rate of any side to have faced another at least 40 times in the competition (68%).

• Aston Villa have won two of their past four Premier League games against Manchester United (D1 L1), as many as they had in their previous 51 against them (D12 L37).

• Manchester United are unbeaten in their past 19 Boxing Day home games since a 3-0 loss against Liverpool in 1978-79.

• Manchester United have lost four of their past seven Premier League home games double the amount they had in their previous 34 at Old Trafford. They have conceded 3+ goals in three different Premier League games at home this season, only doing so more often in 2020-21.

• Aston Villa have lost just one of their past six Premier League away games, going down 2-0 at Nottingham Forest in November. However, they are yet to win consecutive league games on the road this season.

• Ollie Watkins has been directly involved in eight goals in his nine Premier League away games this season, scoring four and assisting four. All eight of these have either put Aston Villa in the lead (four) or drawn them level (four) in the match.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Image source, Reuters

Sir Dave Brailsford is attending tonight's game.

It is the first INEOS representation since the 25% purchase of the club was announced on Christmas Eve.

There are unanswered questions, not least how Manchester United operate with an even bigger debt given that is what will be required for substantial renovations to Old Trafford, or a completely new ground.

However, results and recruitment will be the immediate priorities for Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, the former Juventus chief executive, who will join him on the football club board.

Konsa for England, yay or nay?

Eniola Aluko
Former England forward on Amazon Prime

Ezri Konsa is unfortunate not to have a cap for England yet. He is in the squad now and it will be interesting to see whether he gets that opportunity in the near future

He can play centre back, he has played many games out of position at right back when Matty Cash has been out of the team. He has looked comfortable in any of those positions this season, the composure he has shown has been excellent. Nothing seems to faze him.

Win, lose or draw tonight it's still been a horrible first half of the season for Manchester United.

In fact, United could lose three successive games at Old Trafford tonight for the first time since October 1962 under Sir Matt Busby.

They've already lost 13 matches in all competitions this season, their most defeats before Boxing Day since 1930.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Bizarrely, despite a desperate season so far, Manchester United have the chance to move back into sixth spot in the Premier League by beating in-form Aston Villa at Old Trafford tonight.

It is not something any United fan can be too confident of given the recent form of the respective sides.

But manager Erik ten Hag is adamant a change in fortune is not too far away.

"We can look back on the last year with mixture of emotions," said the Dutchman.

"There's been some real high points - winning the Carabao Cup - and some lower moments.

"The current season has, so far, been below the expectation levels we set for ourselves but Christmas provides us with an opportunity to change the story."

Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager on Amazon Prime

The environment that Unai Emery has created at Aston Villa has seen every player improve, every player has an incredible understanding of what they have to do.

When you talk about Villa it is a team that does everything well. They play with such a high intensity, they press high, score goals, play with a high line.

Image source, PA Sport

Unai Emery says he is "proud" of what his Aston Villa side have accomplished so far this season and is keen for them to keep progressing.

The Villans' club-record 15 straight wins at home was ended by struggling Sheffield United on Friday.

"Each team deserves their position in the Premier League," said Emery. "We demand a lot of ourselves. I am happy and proud of the work we have done so far.

"We are facing Manchester United better than them in the table at the moment, but they are thought of as a top-seven team more than we are.

"At the start of the season, we played at Newcastle and lost, then the same at Liverpool but we have won at Tottenham and Chelsea. We have to work out how we can face those teams."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford will be at Old Trafford tonight as the first signal of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1bn investment into Manchester United.

A rather complicated agreement will eventually see Ratcliffe taking a 25% stake, leaving the Glazer family with just over 50%.

Yet Ratcliffe - through Brailsford and former Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc - will run the sporting side.

The Manchester United Supporters' Trust sum up the feeling of many fans.

"We note the statements that he and his team will control sporting activities, yet puzzle how any organisation can put its very core business in the hands of a minority shareholder, and how that meaningfully works in practice," they said

“It is now incumbent on the club’s owners and management to properly explain how this new structure will work, where the new investment will be directed and how it will benefit the team on the field."

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail and all that. I've had a look at what Villa need to go top tonight. It's just the seven clear goals they require, as they'd be ahead of Liverpool on goals scored.

Don't feel like you need to remember that figure guys, I'll send a reminder if it gets to 5-0.