Manchester United vs Aston Villa - The ultimate 50/1 'Request a Bet'

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can have no excuses if his side fail to beat Aston Villa on Thursday after leaving his entire first-team squad behind for Thursday's 5,800-mile return trip to Kazakhstan.

The Red Devils are nine points back on the top four after only managing a 3-3 draw against Sheffield United last weekend and the gap could be as many as 12 by the time their match with Villa kicks off on Sunday.

Little should be read into Thursday's 2-1 defeat to Astana given the side sent out by Solskjaer, who is intent on kickstarting the busy festive period with three points against a side United have got the better of more often than not in recent history.

To make Sunday's clash between United and Villa even more exciting, we have devised the perfect 50/1 'Request A Bet' with SkyBet, using our unique stats insight to find markets that we believe will give you the best chance of winning. Lets run through our 50/1 special!

Tip 1: Brandon Williams and Frederic Guilbert to be booked

Brandon Williams has made a thoroughly impressive start to his Manchester United career and is currently even above big money signing Luke Shaw in the pecking order for places at left-back. Williams came through a testing period against Sheffield United last weekend to score his first senior goal but has been over-eager at times, highlighted by the fact he has been booked in both Premier League starts this season.

Sticking with full-backs, we are also tipping Frederic Guilbert to pick up a yellow card at Old Trafford. The Villa right-back has enjoyed a highly promising campaign but is already one booking away from a one-match ban in the Premier League. Guilbert has been booked four times so far this season and three of those have come in away matches.

Our unique match forecast states that Villa are statistically 'weak' at avoiding fouls in dangerous areas, as well as defending against skillfull players and counter attack situations. United, meanwhile, are 'likely' to score as a result of a fast break situation and attacking down the left is one of their styles of play. Unfortunately for Villa, Marcus Rashford ticks all of those boxes and his battle with Guilbert will be a fascinating one on Sunday.

Tip 2: Marcus Rashford to score (anytime)

After a challenging start to the season, Marcus Rashford is arguably in the form of his career and United will hope the England international has peaked at the perfect moment, as the fixtures start to come thick and fast over the festive period.

Rashford has scored 10 goals in his last 11 appearances for club and country, including in each of his last five. As already mentioned, the WhoScored Match Forecast believes it is likely United will score against Villa from a fast break and Rashford is the ideal forward to finish such move off.

Daniel James to Rashford is already the joint-best assist-to-goalscorer combination (three goals) in the Premier League this season and is the perfect combination to exploit any situations where Villa are caught short at the back. Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings has already earmarked Rashford as United's dangerman in the build up to Sunday's game.

Tip 3: Manchester United to win and both teams to score (yes)

This is a fixture that United have dominated for a long time. The Red Devils last lost to Villa back in 2009 and have won 10 of the last 11 encounters between the two sides in all competitions. Furthermore, United have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last six home matches against Villa in all competitions and average three goals scored in that time.

Villa, meanwhile, have lost five of their last six away matches in the Premier League and there have been over 2.5 goals scored in their last four away league outings. They will be relieved to have beaten Newcastle on Monday to bring close to a three-game losing streak but history firmly favours the home side.

United are certainly not at the same level as we have become to expect over the last 20 years but they do have form at Old Trafford. They have scored six goals in their last two home matches, as many as their previous six combined. Keeping clean sheets remains a  problem for United, however, with just three in their last 14 matches in all competitions.