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Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-1 on New Year’s Day at Old Trafford to tie Liverpool on points at the top of the Premier League table.
Goals from Anthony Martial and a Bruno Fernandes penalty on either side of a Bertrand Traore goal of Aston Villa were enough to take Man United to 33 points in 16 games. Liverpool remain in first place due to higher goal difference.
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Both goalkeepers sprang into action in the first 15 minutes with Emi Martinez parrying a shot from Martial and David de Gea doing well to avoid a volley from John McGinn.
The teams traded half chances in an entertaining end-to-end opening 45 minutes before Martial headed home from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross on a quick counterattack to put the hosts into a 1-0 lead at the break. .
Traore leveled the score shortly after the restart, shooting home from close range after Jack Grealish took him out with a cross pass into the box.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were back in front minutes later thanks to a Fernandes penalty that came after Paul Pogba was brought down in the area by Douglas Luiz de Villa.
United splashed Martinez’s goal as the second half progressed, with Fernandes and Marcus Rashford forcing saves and Pogba shooting just wide of Villa’s goal.
The hosts saw the result and will look to continue in good shape when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on January 6 (Watch it live on ESPN + at 2:45 ET) ..
