Man Utd, 17th on seven points, host Villa before an expected review of Carrick's job

Manchester United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday in 17th place on seven points, level with 18th-placed Crystal Palace and ahead of them only on goal difference (minus five against minus 12). Sunday's match is United's last Premier League game before the international break, when, according to The Athletic, the club's hierarchy plans to reassess head coach Michael Carrick's position.

What is at stake

Below United are Nottingham Forest on six points and Sunderland on five. BBC Sport notes that if results elsewhere go against them, United could kick off Sunday's game bottom of the table, and that a defeat would probably send them into the bottom three for a fortnight or longer. A win would lift them to ten points, two behind 10th-placed Villa on 12.

The visit follows Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League comeback against Roma, United's first win after nine games without one in all competitions. United trailed 2-0 within 18 minutes before captain Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty and Matheus Cunha added two late goals. "It's one win, so we're not getting too carried away with things, but it was an important win," Carrick said.

Form guide

United have gone seven league games without a win, BBC Sport notes. The latest four, from our data: 1-1 at home to Tottenham, 1-1 at Leeds, a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth and a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, with two goals scored and seven conceded. Villa are unbeaten in their last four league games (two wins and two draws), the latest a 1-1 draw with Fulham on 31 October, and Villa's Nicolas Jackson has scored in three of them, four of his five league goals this season. On Tuesday Villa lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League, the Mirror reports.

History is on United's side at home: BBC Sport says they have lost only two league games at Old Trafford to Villa since 1983.

Emery and team news

Villa manager Unai Emery is among the names linked with United's job, alongside former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, who has just left the Germany job, according to the Evening Standard. On Wednesday Villa said talks between Emery, chairman Nassef Sawiris and football executives Roberto Olabe and Damian Vidagany had established "a clear commitment beyond 2029" under Emery's sporting leadership. The Telegraph, as relayed by BBC Sport, reports that Villa are in advanced talks over a new contract.

On the United side, midfielder Carlos Baleba, the £70m summer signing, joins the injured list after going off with a hamstring problem against Roma. "Initially it doesn't look great," Carrick said. Defender Lisandro Martinez serves a one-match league ban after his second yellow card at Chelsea, Sports Mole reports. United's first game after the break is at Liverpool on 22 November.