Paul Merson Offers His Prediction Ahead Of Man Utd’s Clash With Aston Villa

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has offered his predicted score ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

United warmed up for the game with a hard fought 2-1 victory over West Ham on Wednesday night which booked their place in the semi finals of the FA Cup.

However, the Red Devils must now turn their attention to league matters as they look to close the gap on fourth placed Manchester City and a win tomorrow would put United within just one point of their rivals.

With City facing a tough trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea later in the evening tomorrow, United can not miss this opportunity to put some pressure on their Manchester rivals and Merson believes Louis van Gaal’s men will have little trouble against relegation-bound Villa at Old Trafford.

Writing in his column for Sky Sports, Merson said:

Manchester United were outstanding in midweek. They thoroughly deserved their victory at Upton Park. In the first 20 minutes against Tottenham last Sunday I thought they played very well and looked very comfortable. But in the end they lost 3-0 and if you’d just watched the opening you would have been left scratching your head and wondering how that happened!

They now have a FA Cup semi-final on the horizon but there will be no resting players from United, who still have a chance of reaching the top four. With Aston Villa the visitors they have a real opportunity to close the gap to Manchester City in fourth and I think they will do it in style.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0

We’ll have to wait and see whether Merson’s prediction proves accurate but a 3-0 win would really put the pressure on City and force Manuel Pellegrini’s men to get a positive result against Chelsea on Saturday evening.

Villa head in to the weekend action sitting rock bottom of the table on just 16 points and 15 from safety, so there is no chance the Midlanders will stay up and they have little else left to play for other than pride.