Philippe Coutinho scores on debut as Steven Gerrard’s side rally from two-down to peg back Manchester United.
Ralf Rangnick’s side looked to be cruising with 13 minutes remaining after two Bruno Fernandes goals but Jacob Ramsey and Coutinho, who sprung from the bench with 20 minutes to go having joined on loan from Barcelona in midweek, created a famous comeback at Villa Park.
Philippe Coutinho enjoyed a dream debut as he came off the bench at Villa Park to inspire Aston Villa’s fightback from 2-0 down to draw with Manchester United.
Highlights: Aston Villa 2-2 Man United. 💥
A thrilling fightback at Villa Park. 💪 pic.twitter.com/H38A6d1i1N
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 16, 2022
Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho made his first Premier League appearance in 1477 days (for Liverpool vs Leicester in December 2017) .
His equaliser was the first Premier League goal he has ever scored against Manchester United (8th appearance against them)
Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United took the lead on six minutes, when Bruno Fernandes’s shot from 25 yards squirmed through Emiliano Martinez’s hands and into the net.
Fernandes doubled United’s advantage in the 67th minute, collecting Fred’s pass before firing in off the crossbar.
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Nine minutes after coming on, Coutinho was involved in the build-up to Jacob Ramsey’s 77th-minute goal.
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The Brazilian then converted at the far post from Ramsey’s cross to level on 81 minutes.
Ramsey became the first Aston Villa player to both score and assist against Manchester United in a single Premier League game since John Carew in April 2009 and the third youngest player to do it against the Red Devils in the Premier League overall after Kelechi Iheanacho in September 2016 and Harry Kewell in November 1998.
Manchester United failed to win a Premier League away game in which they led by 2+ goals for the first time since January 2016 against Newcastle (3-3).
🗣 "I've missed the Premier League!"
Aston Villa's Philippe Coutinho and Jacob Ramsey provide their reaction to a dramatic evening at Villa Park 👇 pic.twitter.com/TclCspUaY3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2022
Manchester United stay seventh with 32 points, five behind fourth-placed West Ham United.Aston Villa are 13th on 23 points.
Referee blows for full time to end a breathless contest at Villa Park! 😮💨
A dream debut for Philippe Coutinho who becomes Aston Villa's new hero! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ygyOBORfoa
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2022
Aston Villa coach Steven Gerrard said ,”I thought we improved a lot in the second half, but it took a lot of honesty at half time because for the first 25 minutes we did not commit to what we wanted to do. We prepared to be aggressive and on the front foot and jump on Man United, I thought there was an opportunity for us but credit to them, they were better.
The first goal came off the back of us being passive and second best so we deserved to be in the position we were at half time. From there it could not be any worse, credit to the players we rolled up our sleeves up at 0-2, we were on the front foot, much more like I want Aston Villa to play.
We took a lot of positives from Monday, but we lost so I expected the reaction we got at half time from the whistle and had we had that for 90 minutes we might have taken more than a point.
If you are second best and don’t take the handbrake off you will be picked off. All our good stuff came off the real honesty we didn’t have in the first 25 minutes.”
"At 2-0 down, I needed the players to show amazing character, amazing courage, and we did." 💪
Steven Gerrard reflects on #AVLMUN. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/hJ09NuGzvy
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 15, 2022
Manchester United coach Ralf Rangnick said ,” It is very difficult to find positives after these 95 minutes. I felt it was the best game since I came here, in the first half for 30 minutes we dominated the game. We took some steps forward but have a few things to do better.
The plan was to press them in the midzone and we did that very well in the first 30 minutes, and control the ball, and those were the positives. When you are 2-0 up you have to defend better than we did in the last 15 minutes.
We gave away too many balls at times in the last 15 minutes, we were not as compact as before and conceded the two goals. In the last 15 minutes before half-time we were not as courageous to step up, it was better in the second half and then you have to take the three points home. It feels like a defeat, to be honest.
Right now is very disappointed but what we showed was a step forward but it about getting the results, it feels like two points lost and given away.”
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