Slay the ghosts: Manchester United v Aston Villa preview and team news

Villa supporters would have picked almost any fixture ahead of this one but form is in their favour

It all comes down to this. All the money. All the transfers in and out. All the contract negotiations and commercial partnerships and a summer of change.

Aston Villa need to qualify for the Champions League on Sunday. It’s almost crept up on them as they’ve spent a season outside the top four with cup football bringing most of the excitement.

But with the fifth-placed team in the Premier League also getting a place and Unai Emery’s Villa in form and already in Europe next season, the season’s original aim is now their everything.

In all likelihood, Villa need to win on Sunday. If they do, they’ll qualify for the Champions League if either Newcastle United or Chelsea don’t win, or if Manchester City lose.

In most circumstances, Villa would consider a must-win away game against the fifth-worst team in the league a challenge to relish. But, this season, the fifth-worst team in the league is Manchester United.