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SUB: Jesse Lingard NA. On for Fernandes on 88. Too little time to make a proper impact. Getty Images

ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 5 - The Argentina international is normally very reliable, but his mistake for the first goal is something you don’t expect to see in the Premier League; fumbling a long shot under his legs to leave Villa with it all to do. Getty Images

Lucas Digne 6 - The former Everton man was bright up the left flank and got in a good volume of crosses into the box, though they could have been more accurate in some moments. A fair debut overall. PA

Tyrone Mings 7 - Enjoyed a strong battle with Mason Greenwood and had to match his pace on a number of occasions. A solid defensive display. PA

Ezri Konsa 6 - A disappointing half-time exit for Konsa who tried to play on through injury, but was replaced by Hause at the break. AP Photo

Matty Cash 8 - Smart runs overlapping from fullback caused problems for Manchester United, and the Poland international was close to getting an assist just after the hour mark. A great all-round performance. Getty Images

Jacob Ramsey 9 - The young midfielder took his goal in the manner of a prime striker, finding space inside the box and smashing home past David De Gea. He then got a crucial assist for the equaliser to cap off an inspired performance by the 20-year-old. AFP

Douglas Luiz 6 - Anchored in front of the defence and transitioned the ball forwards to Villa’s creative sparks. Could have been quicker to the ball at times. Reuters

Morgan Sanson 5 - The 27-year-old kept things relatively simple and broke up play well before a costly error at a crucial time saw him dispossessed by Fred for Bruno Fernandes’ second goal of the game. Getty Images

Emiliano Buendia 7 - Played direct with intent throughout the match, and the midfielder got his rewards with a defence-splitting pass that presented the cutback for Coutinho’s goal. AP Photo

Danny Ings 6 - Struggled at times to make things happen and didn’t seem to be able to get a shot off, but he kept harassing the Manchester United defence, leading his team’s press. AFP

Ollie Watkins 7 - Worked tirelessly across the front line and was instructed to run at defenders with the ball, and that opened up space for Villa on occasions, including in the build up to one of the goals. Getty Images

SUB: Kortney Hause (Konsa 46) 6 - Didn’t have too much to do when introduced - and that’s normally a good thing for a centre-back. Getty Images

SUB: Philippe Coutinho (Sanson (68) 8 - Bright on the ball and linked play quickly that forced Fred to make a challenge for the first goal, and he then got on the scoresheet himself - finishing calmly at the backpost from a cutback. A promising debut for Steven Gerrard's side. PA

SUB: Carney Chukwuemeka (Ings 76) - Came on and was involved in a goal right away, linking up with Coutinho before the ball found Ramsey. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED: David de Gea 7. Nothing to do in the first third of the game, then a quick reaction save off a Buendia a corner, then another with his knees from Digne just before half time. Full stretch save from Ramsey on 48 minutes. Excellent positioning and reactions. More saves than any goalkeeper in the league this season. AFP

Diogo Dalot 6. Suffered a ridiculous challenge from Digne, but another bright performer. Alert to intercept a ball which led to United’s second goal. PA

Victor Lindelof 6. First league start in four matches and three key challenges and clearances as Villa pushed for an equaliser at the start of second half but could have done better for Villa’s second goal. Reuters

Raphael Varane 7. United fans may have sung about former central defender Jaap Stam, but Varane was such a good player and secure presence in central defence … until Villa’s second goal, when he was too slow and couldn’t get to the cross. PA

Alex Telles 6. Took the free-kick by tapping the ball to Fernandes to set up the opener. Super cross towards Cavani on 18 minutes. Less of an impact in the second half. AP Photo

Nemanja Matic 6. Started with McTominay suspended. Booked to stop Danny Ings making a rare Villa attack. Beaten to a header by Buendia and fortunate not to get a second yellow on 48 minutes. A good shot, but bypassed by a resurgent Villa and Gerrard’s smart second half substitutions which exploited the space around him. AFP

Fred 6. Well out of his usual position on the edge of the Villa area, but none of his teammates complained as he laid off the ball for Bruno to strike United’s second. Inadvertently set up Villa’s goal and was then in a midfield that was second best after Villa’s changes. The lack of control would cost. AP Photo

Mason Greenwood 7. Closed down by goalkeeper Martinez when he shot a Telles’ cross. Excellent run forward on 20 minutes and shot wide after 27. Another run and shot wide on 61 minutes, then faded like his team, but lots of encouraging football. PA

Bruno Fernandes 8. Took United’s 100th corner of the season – they’ve resulted in zero goals. But he did score with a clever direct effort which went straight through the legs of Martinez. Ran the show in the first half hour. Booked on 46 minutes. Always tried the forward pass, even if they didn’t reach a man. Scored United’s second with a cracking finish. PA

Anthony Elanga 7. First league start of the season and he started it well on the left, stretching Villa. Hammered by Matt Cash in a 40th minute tackle, had United’s first shot on target. Ran across Villa back three and shot wide again on 59 minutes. AP Photo

Edinson Cavani 5. Almost got on a Telles cross, then came deep and lost ball which led to Villa’s first attack. Frequently came deep as he worked hard. Tired by the end, yet was still kept on for the duration. AP Photo

SUB: Jadon Sancho NA. On for Elanga on 77. Quickly disposed by Cash for a resurgent Villa. Did nothing. Again. AP Photo

SUB: Donny Van de Beek NA. On for Greenwood on 88. Turned and had a 95th minute shot. Reuters

SUB: Jesse Lingard NA. On for Fernandes on 88. Too little time to make a proper impact. Getty Images

ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 5 - The Argentina international is normally very reliable, but his mistake for the first goal is something you don’t expect to see in the Premier League; fumbling a long shot under his legs to leave Villa with it all to do. Getty Images

Lucas Digne 6 - The former Everton man was bright up the left flank and got in a good volume of crosses into the box, though they could have been more accurate in some moments. A fair debut overall. PA

Tyrone Mings 7 - Enjoyed a strong battle with Mason Greenwood and had to match his pace on a number of occasions. A solid defensive display. PA

Ezri Konsa 6 - A disappointing half-time exit for Konsa who tried to play on through injury, but was replaced by Hause at the break. AP Photo

Matty Cash 8 - Smart runs overlapping from fullback caused problems for Manchester United, and the Poland international was close to getting an assist just after the hour mark. A great all-round performance. Getty Images

Jacob Ramsey 9 - The young midfielder took his goal in the manner of a prime striker, finding space inside the box and smashing home past David De Gea. He then got a crucial assist for the equaliser to cap off an inspired performance by the 20-year-old. AFP

Douglas Luiz 6 - Anchored in front of the defence and transitioned the ball forwards to Villa’s creative sparks. Could have been quicker to the ball at times. Reuters

Morgan Sanson 5 - The 27-year-old kept things relatively simple and broke up play well before a costly error at a crucial time saw him dispossessed by Fred for Bruno Fernandes’ second goal of the game. Getty Images

Emiliano Buendia 7 - Played direct with intent throughout the match, and the midfielder got his rewards with a defence-splitting pass that presented the cutback for Coutinho’s goal. AP Photo

Danny Ings 6 - Struggled at times to make things happen and didn’t seem to be able to get a shot off, but he kept harassing the Manchester United defence, leading his team’s press. AFP

Ollie Watkins 7 - Worked tirelessly across the front line and was instructed to run at defenders with the ball, and that opened up space for Villa on occasions, including in the build up to one of the goals. Getty Images

SUB: Kortney Hause (Konsa 46) 6 - Didn’t have too much to do when introduced - and that’s normally a good thing for a centre-back. Getty Images

SUB: Philippe Coutinho (Sanson (68) 8 - Bright on the ball and linked play quickly that forced Fred to make a challenge for the first goal, and he then got on the scoresheet himself - finishing calmly at the backpost from a cutback. A promising debut for Steven Gerrard's side. PA

SUB: Carney Chukwuemeka (Ings 76) - Came on and was involved in a goal right away, linking up with Coutinho before the ball found Ramsey. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED: David de Gea 7. Nothing to do in the first third of the game, then a quick reaction save off a Buendia a corner, then another with his knees from Digne just before half time. Full stretch save from Ramsey on 48 minutes. Excellent positioning and reactions. More saves than any goalkeeper in the league this season. AFP

Diogo Dalot 6. Suffered a ridiculous challenge from Digne, but another bright performer. Alert to intercept a ball which led to United’s second goal. PA

Victor Lindelof 6. First league start in four matches and three key challenges and clearances as Villa pushed for an equaliser at the start of second half but could have done better for Villa’s second goal. Reuters

Raphael Varane 7. United fans may have sung about former central defender Jaap Stam, but Varane was such a good player and secure presence in central defence … until Villa’s second goal, when he was too slow and couldn’t get to the cross. PA

Alex Telles 6. Took the free-kick by tapping the ball to Fernandes to set up the opener. Super cross towards Cavani on 18 minutes. Less of an impact in the second half. AP Photo

Nemanja Matic 6. Started with McTominay suspended. Booked to stop Danny Ings making a rare Villa attack. Beaten to a header by Buendia and fortunate not to get a second yellow on 48 minutes. A good shot, but bypassed by a resurgent Villa and Gerrard’s smart second half substitutions which exploited the space around him. AFP

Fred 6. Well out of his usual position on the edge of the Villa area, but none of his teammates complained as he laid off the ball for Bruno to strike United’s second. Inadvertently set up Villa’s goal and was then in a midfield that was second best after Villa’s changes. The lack of control would cost. AP Photo

Mason Greenwood 7. Closed down by goalkeeper Martinez when he shot a Telles’ cross. Excellent run forward on 20 minutes and shot wide after 27. Another run and shot wide on 61 minutes, then faded like his team, but lots of encouraging football. PA

Bruno Fernandes 8. Took United’s 100th corner of the season – they’ve resulted in zero goals. But he did score with a clever direct effort which went straight through the legs of Martinez. Ran the show in the first half hour. Booked on 46 minutes. Always tried the forward pass, even if they didn’t reach a man. Scored United’s second with a cracking finish. PA

Anthony Elanga 7. First league start of the season and he started it well on the left, stretching Villa. Hammered by Matt Cash in a 40th minute tackle, had United’s first shot on target. Ran across Villa back three and shot wide again on 59 minutes. AP Photo

Edinson Cavani 5. Almost got on a Telles cross, then came deep and lost ball which led to Villa’s first attack. Frequently came deep as he worked hard. Tired by the end, yet was still kept on for the duration. AP Photo

SUB: Jadon Sancho NA. On for Elanga on 77. Quickly disposed by Cash for a resurgent Villa. Did nothing. Again. AP Photo

SUB: Donny Van de Beek NA. On for Greenwood on 88. Turned and had a 95th minute shot. Reuters

SUB: Jesse Lingard NA. On for Fernandes on 88. Too little time to make a proper impact. Getty Images

Aston Villa vs Man United player ratings: Coutinho 8, Martinez 5; Fernandes 8, De Gea 7

Coutinho makes an immediate impact on his return to the Premier League with late equaliser

Adam Brown

January 16, 2022

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