COUTINHO HAS Brazil star makes an instant
PHILIPPE COUTINHO came back to haunt Manchester United as he marked his Aston Villa debut with a goal off the bench to claim a draw. 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, courtesy of an Emi Martinez howler, with a fine finish on the break.
But the hosts hit back through Jacob Ramsey before ex-liverpool favourite Coutinho emerged from the bench to snatch a point.
The Brazilian’s cameo was full of signs that he could make a major impact for Gerrard’svilla team.
And also offered Ralf Rangnick a reminder that his United side remain a work in progress.
Having spent the final moments of Monday’s FA Cup encounter with Villa hanging on for a 1-0 win, United made a surprisingly dominant start to proceedings.
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 he saw a back-post header bounce the wrong side of the post.
Then, Mason Greenwood was denied by a brilliant Martinez save, the Argentine getting out to smother his effort and for a corner when a goal looked certain.
And the influential Alex Telles also tested thevilla goalkeeper from a free-kick before Greenwood’s follow-up flew inches wide of the upright.
The home supporters were understandably becoming frustrated as their team continued to struggle, but the latter half of the first period brought more reason for cheer.
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.
And after Elanga and Greenwood shaved the same post in succession, the visitors finally gave themselves a cushion through Fernandes.
It was an impressively coordinated United press that 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 on 67 minutes.
Villa’s race looked to be run at that point, but they refused to give up and were given their reward when a flowing move ended with the ball falling to Ramsey for a composed finish that set up a grandstand finish.
And Coutinho was the perhaps unsurprising scorer of the next, popping up at the back post to smash in a delicious low Ramsey cross with just under 10 minutes remaining.
The Barcelona loanee still had time to test De Gea from distance as the home fans roared, but United held out against ceaseless pressure.