FIRST COUT IS DEEPEST
Ex-Kop menace slices United apart in superb Villa fightback
PHILIPPE COUTINHO marked his Aston Villa debut by completing a two-goal comeback to frustrate Manchester United.
Steven Gerrard’s men looked destined for a second defeat to the Red Devils in a week as Bruno Fernandes followed up an early goal that came courtesy of an Emi Martinez howler with a fine finish on the break after 67 minutes for 2-0.
But the hosts hit back quickly through Jacob Ramsey before former Liverpool favourite Coutinho emerged from the bench to snatch a point after joining on loan from Barcelona.
The Brazilian’s cameo was full of signs that he could make a major impact for Gerrard’s team, and also offered Ralf Rangnick a reminder that his United side remains a work in progress.
Having spent the final moments of Monday’s FA Cup encounter with Villa hanging on to a 1-0 win, United made a surprisingly dominant start.
And it took just five minutes for that early endeavour to be rewarded, the visitors catching their opponents off-guard with a short free-kick that Fernandes powered goalward from 25 yards and Martinez somehow allowed to squirm through his grasp. Although there was an element of fortune to the opener, United made a strong case for having deserved it immediately after.
Anthony Elanga almost marked his third Premier League start with a goal, as his back-post header bounced just wide.
Mason Greenwood was denied by a brilliant Martinez save, while Alex Telles also tested the Villa keeper from a free-kick before Greenwood’s follow-up flew inches wide of the upright.
The home fans were becoming frustrated as their team continued to struggle, but the latter half of the first period brought more reason for cheer.
Gerrard (below) will have taken some encouragement from an Emi Buendia charge through midfield that brought about a weak Ollie Watkins shot. Villa quickly followed that up by forcing David de Gea into an instinctive save as Buendia rose highest to head a near-post corner on target.
United were grateful to their goalkeeper again just before the break as he kept out a low Lucas Digne effort with his knees.
Gerrard’s plans were dealt a half-time blow when Ezri Konsa signalled his inability to continue as a result of an ankle turn.
His replacement, Kortney Hause, went on to make a shaky start that saw him misjudge a bouncing ball and allow Elanga to sting
Martinez’s palms. The defender quickly made amends, though, picking out a beautiful crossfield ball that allowed Digne to lay back for a Buendia shot at goal.
However, while Villa were undoubtedly making greater in-roads in an attacking sense after the break, they looked vulnerable to United counters.
And, after Elanga and Greenwood shaved the same post in quick succession, the visitors finally gave themselves a cushion through Fernandes.
An impressively coordinated United press created the chance, forcing Morgan Sanson into a weak backpass that Fred intercepted before teeing up his colleague for a powerful finish in off the bar.
But Villa refused to give up and got their reward when a flowing move ended in the ball falling to Ramsey for a composed finish.
And Coutinho was the perhaps unsurprising scorer of the next, popping up at the back post to smash in a low Ramsey cross.
He still had time to test De Gea from distance as the home fans roared, but United held out against ceaseless pressure late on.
Unlike Monday’s game, however, United’s rearguard action brought them only a draw – they should have expected more than that when Fernandes scored his second.