Aston Villa meets United at the worst possible time, with confidence high among a squad that is enjoying a 16-match unbeaten run.
United are closing on on Champions League qualification, which seemed a distant dream when the two teams met at Old Trafford in December, the game ending in a 2-2 draw to leave United in ninth place.
However, Smith believes there are areas to exploit on Thursday night, and was encouraged by the display against Liverpool as Villa fought well before goals in the last 20 minutes led to a 2-0 loss.
But United seems to enjoy a strong run and they are poised to win this one.
TEAM NEWS
Tyrone Mings and Jack Grealish are available for Aston Villa despite suffering minor issues against Liverpool.
Matt Targett is again set to miss out with a hamstring problem.
Manchester United will monitor Victor Lindelof, who was withdrawn against Bournemouth because of a back problem.
If the Swede recovers in time United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have the option of naming the same side for a fourth straight league match.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
This is the 50th Premier League fixture between these sides. Aston Villa has won just three of the previous 49, losing 34 times.
Villa has won just one of their last 42 Premier League meetings with Manchester United (D11, L30), with their solitary victory coming at Old Trafford in December 2009.
Manchester United are unbeaten in 20 Premier League away games against Aston Villa (W13, D7) since losing 3-1 at Villa Park on the opening day of the 1995-96 season. It is the longest unbeaten away run by one team against another in top-flight history.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa has claimed only two points in their last nine league matches (D2, L7), scoring just five goals in this run.
Villa has won just one of their last 27 Premier League matches against sides starting the day in the top half of the league (D4, L22).
The 2-0 defeat at Liverpool was the 20th time this season that Villa has conceded two or more goals in a Premier League game this season.
Defeat at Liverpool means Villa have lost at least 20 times in each of their last four top-flight seasons – they did not lose more than 17 games in each of their first 21 Premier League campaigns.
- Pogba’s flash of Brilliance, Barcelona’s Setback: Top Sports Highlights
- Why Liverpool’ s EPL Title is Very Expensive and Top Sports Highlight
- Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Team news, match facts and prediction
Manchester United
Manchester United is looking to become the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive matches by a margin of at least three goals.
United are undefeated in nine Premier League games (W6, D3), the longest current unbeaten run in the division.
They have won their last four matches in league and cup – their best run since winning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first eight games in charge between December 2018 and January 2019.
Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 11 goals in his nine Premier League matches, scoring six and assisting five.
Mason Greenwood has 15 goals in all competitions this season – the only teenagers to score more goals for the Red Devils in a season is George Best in 1965-66, Brian Kidd in 1967-68, and Wayne Rooney in 2004-05 (all scored 17 goals).
Anthony Martial is one goal away from becoming the 10th United player to score 50 Premier League goals – and the second Frenchman to do so for the club, after Eric Cantona.
PREDICTION: 1-2
