Coming in from the cold?
Logically, Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek should start tonight. Henderson has been told he cannot leave on loan this month and it would be senseless to deny him an FA Cup start. Van de Beek remains an untried option to arrest the midfield malaise.
Ralf Rangnick has promised to play the 'best possible team' and, whatever that is, many are bound to disagree with it. Henderson and Van de Beek do not fit the 'best possible team' criteria but United would benefit from the inclusion of both.
Defensive changes
It would have been a wasted question in Rangnick's first crisis week but it was mystifying that Aaron Wan-Bissaka kept his place against Wolves. Diogo Dalot performed well during his four-match stint in the Premier League and has shown he is the more suitable right-back if United are to play on the front foot.
Victor Lindelof is training again and should be partnering Raphael Varane outright, irrespective of Harry Maguire's fitness. That might be harsh on Phil Jones, but one swallow does not a summer make and his future still lies away from Old Trafford.
New formation?
Against the first top-half opposition with an innovative tactical set-up, United lost. The 4-2-2-2 has merit but is a system Wolves found it easy to play around and it would have been a travesty if United had eked a point out of the game.
No formation is foolproof but United have been reluctant to adopt a 4-3-3 set-up in two-and-a-half years and it may maximise the qualities of their technical players whilst ensuring Cristiano Ronaldo is not isolated up front.
Stronger team than expected?
Opponents dictate teams in the domestic cup competitions and against then-Championship Watford last season United made nine changes at a time they were second in the table. United went top with victory at Burnley the next week.
Villa are only 13th in the league but won at United in September and Steven Gerrard is not going to be lacking motivation on his first appearance at a stadium since his December 2014 humiliation. Rangnick is unlikely to opt for mass rotation.
Fernandes back in?
Just like at Villarreal, a bench role jolted Bruno Fernandes when he came on against Wolves and he had a matchwinning opportunity with his sitter that smacked against the crossbar.
Fernandes also played Cristiano Ronaldo in for a rare sighter and had a stoppage-time free-kick repelled by Jose Sa. He has done enough to start tonight.
