The Holy Trinity: Aston Villa conclusions from predictable loss against Manchester United

Villa's Champions League hopes need a boost and it's difficult to see where they're going to get one

Losing at Old Trafford isn’t just expected. It’s inevitable, and the gamblers among us can still make some decent wedge off knowing that.

Aston Villa were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, slipping three points behind them in the table and leaving themselves open to Liverpool moving past them with a home win against Tottenham Hotspur.

Villa had to deal with a good team playing reasonably well on their own turf. United are not incompetent and their recent form made them strong favourites against Villa. Unai Emery is no stranger to beating United as Villa manager, relatively speaking, but winning the away fixture is nigh-on impossible in the full context of history.

Ross Barkley scored Villa’s only goal of the game, which was sandwiched between Casemiro’s header and Matheus Cunha’s gift on the break. Falling 2-1 behind was the killer blow for Villa and optimism is becoming the fringe sentiment.

Here’s your Holy Trinity of match conclusions: