Aston Villa starting XI: Nyland; Konsa, Mings, Hause, Targett; Luiz, McGinn, Hourihane; El Ghazi, Grealish, Davis.
Aston Villa substitutes: Reina, Taylor, Nakamba, Trezeguet, Baston, Samatta, Jota, Elmohamady, Vassilev.
Sheffield United starting XI: Henderson; Basham, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Berge, Stevens; Sharp, McBurnie.
Sheffield United substitutes: Moore, Jagielka, Rodwell, McGoldrick, K. Freeman, L. Freeman, Osborn, Mousset, Clarke.
The Premier League finally returns this evening, as Aston Villa host Sheffield United in the first game since the pandemic-induced lockdown.
Football has been gone for more than three months now, and fans likely can’t wait to see games being played after such a long wait – even if the game is behind closed doors.
Villa need the points to try and aid their battle against survival, and Dean Smith goes with Orjan Nyland over Pepe Reina in goal.
Ezri Konsa looks to be playing at right back, joining Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause and Matt Targett in the back four.
Douglas Luiz and Conor Hourihane are rejoined by the returning John McGinn in a three-man midfield for Villa.
Keinan Davis is given the nod up front, and will be supported by Anwar El Ghazi and Jack Grealish.
Mbwana Samatta is on the bench, alongside Reina, Neil Taylor, Ahmed Elmohamady, Marvelous Nakamba, Indiana Vassilev, Jota, Trezeguet and Borja Baston.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United start with Dean Henderson in goal. Jack O’Connell misses out through injury, meaning Jack Robinson comes in as the left-sided centre back.
John Egan and Chris Basham join him in the back three, with George Baldock and Enda Stevens picked as the wing backs today.
John Lundstram, Oliver Norwood and Sander Berge start in midfield, with Billy Sharp and Oliver McBurnie up top.
Jack Rodwell is given a spot on the bench, alongside Simon Moore, Luke Freeman, Kieron Freeman, David McGoldrick, Lys Mousset, Ben Osborn and Leon Clarke.
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