Man Utd 2 – 1 A Villa

Manchester United kicked off the New Year by underscoring their title credentials with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa that put them on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Anthony Martial’s second league goal of the season and Bruno Fernandes’ penalty in the second half were enough to fire an energetic Villa, who drew through Bertrand Traore and pushed United all the way in an entertaining duel in Old Trafford.

Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash and Keinan Davis all blew late chances to snatch a point, but United held their own to end Villa’s five-game unbeaten streak.

United are now 10 games unbeaten in the Premier League and tied on points with champions Liverpool, who were followed by nine points the last time they tasted defeat to Arsenal on 1 November.

How United beat the lively Villa …

United got off to a brighter start but could not find advancement early as Fernandes, Martial and Harry Maguire were turned down by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Villa held firm against the opening charge and then drew a line underneath it, with a 12-minute shot close to the post from John McGinn forcing a save from David de Gea that brought the visitors to life.

Villa displayed all the hallmarks of a team on a five-game unbeaten streak and limited United to shots from range as Fred and Paul Pogba failed in their attempts to seize the lead.

But United’s encouraging game was rewarded five minutes before halftime when Pogba released Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Martial crouched down to finish off his second league goal of the season from a hopeful right-back cross after Mings failed to clear. .

Villa found quality in the final third that eluded them in the first period as they sought a draw early in the second half.

Ollie Watkins came close to doing it seven minutes into the restart with a massive header that crossed the goal, but De Gea made an impressive save to nail it over the crossbar, before fit Anwar El Ghazi volleyed over the top. from United’s crossbar.

Villa’s pressure finally spoke just before the hour when a quick free kick released Grealish behind forward Wan-Bissaka. His cross found Traore unmarked at the back post and he took a touch to control before shooting De Gea and Maguire on the goal line.

It wasn’t more than Villa deserved, but the parity lasted less than three minutes and gave United a chance to regain their lead. Douglas Luiz awkwardly hit Pogba’s heels into the box, handing Fernandes a penalty that he clinically dispatched in the bottom corner.

Falling behind only strengthened Villa further and they could have tied for the second time, but a last-gasp clearance by Wan-Bissaka sent the ball away just as El Ghazi leaned in to head off the back post, before De Gea will pat the Dutchman. Hitting from a tight angle away.

United responded and should have put daylight between them and Villa, but Pogba deflected Luke Shaw’s center inches wide and Rashford sent a rough drive inches from either side of Martinez, deftly launching Fernandes’s shot off the bar. .

United almost paid the price for their extravagance when Mings edged Maguire to hit a sumptuous cross from Cash from a free kick, but the Villa captain’s header was agonizingly deflected.

Cash’s long-range shot tipped toward the post before Eric Bailly’s crucial block prevented substitute Davis from snatching a point from Villa in injury time as United saw the win, sparking passionate celebrations in the field by blowing the full-time whistle.

How Man Utd got to Liverpool’s level

Opta Stats – Fernandes flawless from point of view

• In the history of the Premier League, the only player who directly participated in more goals in his first 30 appearances in the competition than Bruno Fernandes (33 – 19 goals, 14 assists) is Andrew Cole (37 – 28 goals, 9 assists).
• Manchester United are undefeated in their last 16 Premier League matches against Aston Villa (W12 D4).
• Aston Villa have lost 13 of their last 15 Premier League away matches against Manchester United at Old Trafford (1 win, 1 draw).
• Anthony Martial has now scored seven days a week in the Premier League for Man Utd, becoming the fifth player to do so, after Ryan Giggs, Andrew Cole, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.
• Manchester United striker Anthony Martial ended a streak of seven Premier League appearances at Old Trafford without a goal, scoring his first goal at home since scoring against Southampton in July.
• Only Tottenham’s Harry Kane (10) has assisted more Premier League goals this season than Jack Grealish (7), while the last Aston Villa player to assist more than seven Premier League goals in one season was Ashley. Young in 2010/11 (10).
• Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first Premier League game by Man Utd in December 2018, the Red Devils have received (27) and scored (21) the most penalties in the Premier League.

What the managers said …

Head of Man Utd Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “It’s two extra points, if we had lost and conceded a goal towards the end, Eric makes a fantastic block.

“I didn’t really enjoy the last 10 minutes because we should have seen the game in a better way. It seemed like a cup final or the last game of the season, so we have to learn to play better when we are in the lead.

“We have shown that when we chase a goal, we are capable of doing it. We create chances, I think it’s always going to be a physical game. They’ve improved tremendously and given us some challenges. And there were a few times in that box where you were a little bit. worried.

“We didn’t stop crosses well enough because when they cross the box, they are always dangerous, but we did some fantastic blocks, some saves and obviously delighted with the three points.”

Aston Villa Manager Dean smith: “In the first half we were miles apart. The first 15 minutes felt like a testimony, then they injected some rhythm into it and they deservedly got ahead. I asked for more at half-time and we deserved to get back into the game. Our goalkeeper had to make some good stops, but they were all out of the box.

“I thought it was a penalty at the time, but I looked at him after the game and saw that he tripped. I don’t see why Michael [Oliver] I couldn’t have looked at it. That’s what VAR is for, right? Pogba stumbled. There are margins in football. I’ve seen it again and I don’t think it’s a penalty.

“We know we are on a good journey at the moment. We believe we have five key arrivals to accompany the players who are already ready for the Premier League. This is only our second season in the division, but competing here and against Liverpool. and Arsenal show that our journey is going well so far. “

Man of the Match – Paul Pogba

Whats Next?

Man Utd host rivals Man City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday at 7:45 pm. M., Live on Sky Sports Football, before hosting Watford in the FA Cup third round on Saturday at 8pm. M.

Wednesday, January 13 7:30 p.m.

Start at 8:15 pm

Aston Villa host Liverpool in the FA Cup third round on Friday at 7.45pm before hosting Tottenham in the Premier League on January 13 at 8.15pm. Sky Sports.