Aston Villa vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Philippe Coutinho equaliser
Follow the reaction as Aston Villa claimed a sensational point against Manchester United
Follow live reaction as Philippe Coutinho scored the equalising goal on his Aston Villa debut to secure a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League. United looked set to claim their second win over Steven Gerrard’s side in a week but Coutinho’s introduction changed the game as he set one up and scored another to complete a wild comeback at Villa Park.
Just five days on from knocking Villa out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, United were handed an early lead as goalkeeper Emi Martinez allowed a Fernandes shot from range through his legs. Villa responded well and David de Gea was forced into a couple of important stops at the other end, and it was the hosts who were on top when Fernandes added his second on 67 minutes.
It came just as Villa were preparing to bring on Coutinho, and the Brazilian had a hand in the hosts pulling a goal back as Jacob Ramsey fired a finish past De Gea with 15 minutes left to play. Coutinho then finished Ramsey’s cross from close range to complete the comeback.
Follow all the reaction to Aston Villa vs Manchester United below:
Philippe Coutinho leads Aston Villa comeback against Manchester United on dream Premier League return
Manchester United were still in celebratory mode when the switch finally happened. Philippe Coutinho had been on the touchline waiting to make his Aston Villa bow, but had to watch Bruno Fernandes score a second before then replacing Morgan Sanson.
The game felt lost at the point of his introduction: the hosts best period had preceded the Portugal international’s thundered finish on 67 minutes, moments before the change was made. Villa faced a steep climb, after Emi Martinez’s howler in the opening stages.
Villa were cooked at 2-0, but Coutinho - desperate to remind the world, and vitally himself - of his gifts delivered an altogether different recipe.
Philippe Coutinho leads Aston Villa comeback against Man United on dream return
Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester United: The Brazilian changed the game on his return to English football as he set up Jacob Ramsey before scoring a late equaliser
Reaction from Philippe Coutinho
Super sub Philippe Coutinho spoke to Sky Sports after the game about the result and returning to the Premier League. He said:
I missed these games and the Premier League. I’m very happy to be here with my new teammates. It was a good start, we kept believing until the end, but we didn’t lose.
“There have been many ups and downs. It is in the past, I’m here and I’m focussed on the objectives of the club and the manager and I want to a good job to help my teammates and the club.”
Philippe Coutinho seals stirring Aston Villa comeback in Manchester United draw
Superb sub Philippe Coutinho sealed a stirring Aston Villa comeback as Steven Gerrard’s men fought back to claim a 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester United
Having started the week by edging through to the FA Cup third round with a somewhat fortuitous win, Ralf Rangnick’s side looked on course for another hard-fought victory against Villa on Saturday evening.
A howler from Emiliano Martinez gifted Bruno Fernandes an early opener and the stand-in captain fired United further ahead at Villa Park, only for new boy Coutinho’s introduction to spark a fightback.
Philippe Coutinho seals stirring Aston Villa comeback in Manchester United draw
Ralf Rangnick’s side looked on course for another hard-fought victory against Villa on Saturday evening.
Aston Villa vs Man Utd player ratings: Philippe Coutinho rescues draw on Premier League return
Aston Villa rescued a 2-2 draw in the Premier League against Manchester United after mistakes led to both of the visitors goals. Here are the player ratings from Villa Park:
Player ratings as Philippe Coutinho rescues Aston Villa draw on Premier League return
Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester United: Coutinho and Ramsey rescued a draw for the home side after mistakes led to United goals
Aston Villa 2 - 2 Man Utd
A remarkable comeback from Aston Villa means Manchester United squander the chance to get back into the top six. They remain in seventh place and are five points behind West Ham (4th) in the race for the top four.
Aston Villa stop their run of defeats with that draw. A point takes them above Brentford into 13th with the Bees set to play Liverpool tomorrow.
Aston Villa 2 - 2 Man Utd
Philippe Coutinho didn’t manage a goal or assist in any of his seven Premier League appearances against Manchester United while playing for Liverpool (480 minutes), but netted Villa’s equaliser just 14 minutes into his debut for the club.
Aston Villa 2 - 2 Man Utd
A dream debut for Philippe Coutinho.
Full-time: Aston Villa 2 - 2 Man Utd
90+5 mins: Great work from Hause! A diagonal ball comes over to the far side of the box to Sancho. He picks out Van de Beek in the box and the substitute weaves into space and drills one at goal only for Hause to block it!
The final whistle goes and Aston Villa rescue a point. Jacob Ramsey was brilliant throughout and Philippe Coutinho’s cameo set up the first goal and scored the second. Villa Park has a new hero.
Aston Villa 2 - 2 Man Utd
90+2 mins: There’s a couple of minutes taken out of the game as Buendia lands awkwardly and stays on the deck. He does look in a bit of pain as he talks to the medics and gets helped off the pitch.
Villa win a free kick that Douglas Luiz flicks into the box. Hause gets to the header but softly knocks it to De Gea.
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