This follows Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Forest began the game below United, but the three points against Enzo Maresca’s men see them sit in 16th position.
The Red Devils have dropped into 18th place, with only Crystal Palace and Sunderland below them.
Michael Carrick has won only one game out of nine matches.
However, United go into the home fixture against Villa in buoyant mood, having come from behind to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League.
