Man United v Aston Villa LIVE: Rasmus Hojlund scores first Premier League goal to complete comeback win

Ahead of the post-Christmas period, Manchester United were in eighth place, only one point behind Newcastle, although the Magpies have had their own problems of late and suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in the Boxing Day early kick-off.

However, they were more importantly already eight points behind Tottenham who occupy the final Champions League spot.

While their own European Campaign this year came to a meek end when they finished bottom of the group, behind the likes of Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen, they will want to avoid being unable to make amends next season.

Onto the match itself, and here is how to watch:

Manchester United host Aston Villa in the Premier League tonight as Erik ten Hag’s side try to make up ground in the race to finish in the top four.

Villa have been flying under Spanish manager Unai Emery this season, so much so that they are in the conversation for the Premier League title approaching the halfway stage, although a draw against Sheffield United before Christmas ended a club-record 15-game winning run at home to slow their momentum.

Lineups confirmed!

Man United XI: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot, Mainoo, Eriksen, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, D Carlos, Lenglet, Digne, McGinn, Dendoncker, Luiz, J Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe was born, Manchester United were champions of England. If that was an unusual status for them then – Sir Matt Busby’s triumph in 1952 was United’s first in 41 years – the chances are that Ratcliffe hopes their 21st title will come with him in the boardroom. It has taken him seven decades to travel the seven miles from his Failsworth birthplace to Old Trafford and a status as co-owner of United. That, and the accumulation of remarkable wealth; some £1.3bn has been required for the petrochemicals tycoon to purchase a 25 per cent stake in the club.

Gary Neville criticised the “truly awful” timing of Manchester United’s confirmation that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club after the deal was announced at 4pm on Christmas Eve.

After months of talks, United have finally confirmed that they had entered an agreement with the Ratcliffe and the Ineos Group, who will assume delegated responsibility for the club’s football operations.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United and will be given footballing control of the club.

The Ineos billionaire, a lifelong United fan, has paid £1.3bn for Class A and B shares from the Glazer family, who retain the biggest part of the club, and will provide an extra $300m (£236) for investment in Old Trafford. Two-thirds of that will be available immediately, with the rest to follow by the end of 2024.

The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney took a closer look at what happened:

For all the noise around the Manchester United sale process over the past few months, there were a few key words that actually stood out as crucial to those involved. That was when the Ineos delegation met the club hierarchy and Sir Jim Ratcliffe was “blunt” about the many football failings. The billionaire, who took the same “helicopter view” of the sport as he does all his businesses, pointed to specific areas where United were drastically underperforming against similar clubs.

And now here’s a look at the takeover and the story of what happened in the last few days:

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has finally completed his 25 per cent investment in Manchester United to become a minority shareholder in the football giants.

The Ineos billionaire has paid £1.3bn for Class B shares from the Glazer family, who retain the biggest part of the club, and will provide an extra $300m for investment in Old Trafford. Two-thirds of that will be available immediately, with the rest to follow by the end of 2024. Ratcliffe will control football operations at United.

Luke Shaw surveyed the wreckage of Manchester United’s latest defeat and admitted: “It’s just not good enough.”

The Red Devils went down 2-0 at West Ham to slip to their 13th loss from 26 matches this season.

Ahead of the Boxing Day clash the Red Devils have gone four matches in a row without scoring for the first time since 1992, but Ten Hag remained upbeat:

Erik Ten Hag insists Manchester United have goals in them despite drawing another blank in a dispiriting 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

But beleaguered boss Ten Hag said: “We have players who can do it. They’ve proved in the past they can do it. But we also have to acknowledge the fact that we didn’t do it as a team. We have to take responsibility. Football is about winning games and scoring goals.