Well, it's time to see how this all actually lines up. Below, you'll find Paul Lambert's response to an absurd rash of injuries as Aston Villa get set to take on Manchester United. But really, does the lineup matter that much? Aston Villa haven't beaten United in almost exactly five years, an 0-1 victory at Old Trafford on 12 December 2009. Before that it was a League Cup victory in 1999.
And in between? Futility. Last year at Old Trafford, Ashley Westwood put Villa up 0-1 and we were all amazed. And then came four unanswered United goals. In November 2012, there was a 2-0 lead at Villa Park that vanished into a 2-3 defeat thanks to two goals from Javier Hernandez and one from Ron Vlaar. Or the 1-1 draw in February 2010 at Villa Park that saw a Carlos Cuellar (!) goal equalized by a James Collins (!) own goal.
So this isn't a match about lineups. This is a match about defeating recent history. And here's hoping that Villa can all give us an early Christmas present and send the Red Devils home with a defeat.
Aston Villa starting XI
Brad Guzan, Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Jores Okore, Ciaran Clark, Aly Cissokho, Carlos Sánchez, Fabian Delph, Andi Weimann, Gabby Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke
Aston Villa subs
Shay Given, Leandro Bacuna, Chris Herd, Charles N'Zogbia, Callum Robinson, Jack Grealish, Riccardo Calder
Manchester United starting XI
David De Gea, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans, Antonio Valencia, Darren Fletcher, Mata, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Robin Van Persie, Radamel Falcao
Manchester United subs
Anders Lindegaar, Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair, Rafael, Angel Di Maria, Adnan Januzaj, James Wilson