A Villa 2 – 2 Man Utd

Philippe Coutinho scored on his Aston Villa debut as his new club came roaring back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Manchester United.

Ralf Rangnick’s side looked to be cruising with 13 minutes remaining after two Bruno Fernandes goals but Jacob Ramsey and Coutinho, who sprung from the bench with 20 minutes to go having joined on loan from Barcelona in midweek, created a famous comeback at Villa Park.

“I missed these games, I missed the Premier League,” Coutinho told Sky Sports.

His manager Steven Gerrard added: “You don’t lose talent. The key thing for Phil is he needs to be smiling and enjoying his football. Anyone who goes to work who isn’t in a positive place it’s difficult to perform and be at your best.”

Despite being without Cristiano Ronaldo due to a hip injury, United started with great intent and Fernandes gave them the lead after his tame strike from range somehow bobbled through the legs of Emiliano Martinez.

The game looked safe for the visitors when Fernandes finished in ruthless style after a misplaced pass from Morgan Sanson had allowed United to break. However, they couldn’t see the game through as Ramsey got the Villa Park crowd rocking with a well-taken finish with 13 minutes left.

Just five minutes later, Villa were level when Coutinho was on hand to strike from close range after a brilliant assist from Ramsey.

Sky Sports’ Roy Keane was disappointed with how United let the lead slip, he said: “For United, you get 2-0 in front and you think it’s game over but then we saw the weaknesses in United: that lack of control, particularly in midfield, and they give away a couple of goals they’ll be disappointed with.

“It shows their shortcomings. The table doesn’t lie, they’re seventh now. There are still plusses, there is quality and we saw that today. But there’s still that bit of weakness. There was no aggression. United looked tired in the second half.”

How Coutinho sparked Villa Park into life…

A few eyebrows were raised when the teams were announced with Rangnick handing a first Premier League start of the season to Anthony Elanga.

The 19-year-old was tasked with providing United with plenty of width down the left and gave Matty Cash a torrid time with his direct running and enthusiastic play. The opening goal came courtesy of an attack down Elanga’s side that presented United with a free-kick that Fernandes took short and blasted through the clumsy clutches of Martinez.

The Villa goalkeeper has been one of the star performers of the season this season but there no was hiding from this mistake.

Villa failed to have a shot or register a touch in the United box for the opening 30 minutes as Martinez was by far the busiest goalkeeper, making two saves from Mason Greenwood and palming an Alex Telles free-kick away from danger. Emi Buendia started to get Villa playing approaching half-time and he almost levelled when flicking a Lucas Digne – making his Villa debut – corner at goal but David de Gea reacted smartly.

Steven Gerrard sent out Villa with greater aggression after the break and with their defence pushed up a little higher, United were finding second balls harder to come by. Despite the improved tempo from the hosts it was United carrying the greater threat in the final third with Greenwood scampering clear but sliding an effort wide. The second goal would eventually come from the all-action Fernandes.

United pressed and under-pressure Sanson sent an under-hit pass that Fred lapped up, with the midfielder smartly laying off for Fernandes to strike in off the underside of the crossbar.

Sanson let out his fury on some touchline water bottles when he was replaced by Coutinho straight after, with the Brazilian quick to make an impact.

Tyrone Mings burst up the field and Coutinho’s presence in the build-up ended with the ball being prodding into the path of Ramsey to strike in front of the Holte End. It was his first goal at Villa Park.

Buoyed by his moment in front of his adoring public, Ramsey the turned provider. Buendia played through Ramsey to direct a first-time left-footed cross to the far post, where Coutinho turned home to send Villa Park into delirium and floor United.

“It was a tough one take – we had the game under control,” Fernandes told Sky Sports.

Opta stats: United throw it away

• Manchester United failed to win a Premier League away game in which they led by 2+ goals for the first time since January 2016 against Newcastle (3-3).
• Since making his Manchester United debut in February 2020, only Mo Salah (45) and Harry Kane (34) have scored more Premier League goals than Bruno Fernandes (33), while only James Ward-Prowse (7) has scored more goals from outside the box in the competition during this period than the Portuguese (6).
• Ramsey became the first Aston Villa player to both score and assist against Manchester United in a single Premier League game since John Carew in April 2009 and the third youngest player to do it against the Red Devils in the Premier League overall after Kelechi Iheanacho in September 2016 and Harry Kewell in November 1998.

What’s next?

Next up for Aston Villa is a trip to Goodison Park next Saturday to face Everton while United have a rearranged Premier League clash with Brentford on Wednesday before hosting top-four rivals West Ham United on Saturday.