Aston Villa drew with Sheffield United as the 2019/20 Premier League season resumes.
After 98 days football in England returned to the field with Villa hoping to get a result to kickstart their push for safety at Villa Park. The Blades have far loftier ambitions and will have their eyes on an unlikely Champions League qualification place should things break right for them between now and the end of the season.
The match was an even affair blighted by controversy as goal-line technology appeared to miss the ball go over the line in the first-half denying Sheffield United a certain goal.
First up, here's everything you need to know about Villa's term:
Here's a bit of team news ahead of the game.
Wesley Moares and Tom Heaton are still out for Aston Villa, while Sheffield United have received a double fitness boost...
Former Villa left-back Enda Stevens is back at full health after a long-term injury, while Lys Mousset is also available again.
"Please, enjoy watching us on television, I hope we put on a good show for you live on television, and as soon as it is safe and as soon as it is legal to do so, we’ll have fans back at Villa Park,” he said.
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We're expecting the Premier League to return with an entertaining, open match. Aston Villa will be desperate to claw their way out of the relegation zone and we think they can snatch a point at home.
Aston Villa 2-2 Sheffield United is our prediction...
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United will be shown live on Sky Sports tonight, with kick-off at 6pm.
To watch the match without a Sky Sports subscription, you can purchase a Now TV pass here.
From a footballing perspective the lockdown came at the right time for Aston Villa. They are on a five-game losing streak in all competitions including four straight losses in the league.
This is Villa's longest losing streak since a run of 11 matches in the Premier League in 2016.
Can they turn their fortunes around tonight?
It's nothing but good news for Sheffield United who have a fully-fit squad going into the match.
Manager Chris Wilder has hinted there will be no surprises in his line-up
Christian Purslow, Aston Villa's chief executive, believes the resumption of the Premier League will be a successful on, saying:
"I think it will lift everyone to be watching football. We will have the eyes of the world on us but the level of planning and preparation that has gone in makes me extremely confident that it will be a great success.
"It [the Premier League's return] now feels about right.
"I am not sure I felt that when we first confirmed but I think events have caught up with football and it now feels absolutely the right thing and there is a palpable sense of excitement."
There will also be a minute's silence to remember those who have died with coronavirus before the first matches.
Jack Robinson and Sander Berge come in to replace John Fleck and Jack O'Connell, who miss out through injury.
At Villa Park the new procedeures are in full effect. Temperature testing has to be done to get into the ground, social distancing has to be followed and their are sanitation stations all around the stadium.
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