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Bruno Fernandes was once again crucial for Manchester United.
MANCHESTER UNITED – ASTON VILLA 2-1:
The importance of the Portuguese can hardly be described after the transfer of Sporting Lisbon just over a year ago, and on Friday he returned to play one of the main roles when Manchester United rose to the same score as Liverpool in the Premier League.
Fernandes was first involved in the opening goal before half-time, before sending United to the lead after half-time when he scored a penalty.
The midfielder has been the safe even from eleven meters after the transition of Portuguese football, and stands out after Friday’s goal with 15 goals in 16 attempts from the chalk mark.
He has 19 goals (and 14 assists) in his first 30 league games with Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team.
Only Ruud van Nistelrooy can match that goal at Old Trafford.
The three points make Solskjær smile after several good results.
The Norwegian has turned things upside down following criticism that followed CL’s recession against Leipzig in early December when the red-clad left the Champions League.
Since then, Solskjær’s side have four wins and two draws in six league games, and with that they have buckled up and brought Liverpool into the Premier League.
Good attack
Solskjær decided to make several changes to the team that beat Wolves just a few days ago, but the Norwegian was able to see John McGinn get his first chance of the match.
The Scotsman slipped into the back post and finished in the 13th minute, but the attempt was stopped by David de Gea in United’s goal.
The hosts showed good tendencies on the field at times without being counted, but at 40 minutes it was a full flap.
Good combinations from Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford saw Aaron Wan-Bissaka finally free from the right.
The back struck in front of the goal, where Anthony Martial clinically put the ball into the goal with the orthopedic forehead.
United penalty after Pogba foul
The lead was held at half-time, but the Birmingham visitors came very close to equalizing just after the change of ends.
One post found Ollie Watkins on the right track. De Gea, however, was not fooled, and left a hand and saved the end.
However, there was little the Spaniard could do at 58 minutes, when the ball finally ended up in the hands of Bertrand Traore.
The 25-year-old from Burkina Faso caught the ball at the back post behind a Jack Grealish post, and rolled the ball into the net from close range.
However, the tie lasted only a few minutes when Pogba went to the ground inside the Aston Villa field after an awkward intervention by Douglas Luiz.
Michael Oliver pointed to the penalty spot and was not tested by the VAR bus, and from the penalty spot Fernandes was safe, even without his usual jump on approach.
Villa never managed to mobilize a proper final sprint, and the three points mean Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his team now have 33 points after 16 series rounds.
There are as many as league-leading Liverpool, but Jürgen Klopp’s side leads the table with better goal difference than rivals Old Trafford.
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