Aston Villa vs Sheffield United LIVE: Team news, line-ups and more ahead of Premier League fixture tonight

The last time these sides met in the Premier League the game was met with a controversy that ultimately kept Aston Villa in the top flight last season.

42 minutes into the game Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland carried Oliver Norwood's free-kick over the line but referee Michael Oliver did not receive a signal to indicate a goal.

The match then finished 0-0 and Villa took away a point that saved them from relegation. 

Their first test comes from Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United who excelled in their first season back in the top flight last term. They finished ninth after a disappointing end to the season post lockdown and have arguably a bigger challenge this year.

The Blades now come with increased expectations and will desperately be hoping to avoid the second season slump that usually hits promoted sides from the Championship.

A 2-0 loss at home to Wolves in the opening fixture will have rocked the boat at Bramall Lane and Chris Wilder will be demanding a better performance from his team tonight. 

More good work from Aston Villa was in securing the services of Jack Grealish and Tyrone Mings until 2024.

Mings recently extended his contract with the club that he joined on loan from Bournemouth in January 2019 and then moved to, permanently, six months later.

He joins Grealish as one of the existing members of the team to commit to the club on a long term basis which should help the midlands’ side in their goal of securing Premier League football for years to come. 

Three changes for Chris Wilder’s Blades side that lost to Wolves in their first game back. Oliver Norwood, Billy Sharp and Oli McBurnie are out with David McGoldrick, Sander Berge, and Oli Burke coming in.

Burke makes his debut for Sheffield United with John Egan taking the captain’s armband. 

Let’s take a look at Dean Smith’s first starting line up of the campaign. Emi Martinez starts, as expected, in goal for Villa with new signings Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash also in the line up: 

Aston Villa get their Premier League campaign started this evening against Sheffield United, who are also looking to gain their first points of the season after losing to Wolves in the opening week. 

Villa have made some good purchases over the summer, signing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal and full-back Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest.

Former Brentford striker, Ollie Watkins, was brought in to boost Villa’s attacking options for a club record £28 million and he’ll be joined up front by Bertrand Traore, newly signed from Lyon for an undisclosed fee.  

Hello and welcome along to our live coverage of Aston Villa vs Sheffield United…