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:
Guardiola’s reaction
The reaction from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola who believes his team put in a fantastic performance against a stubborn Chelsea and when asked whether his side deserved the victory he said:
Absolute. They way we played, everything we have done. We cannot forget which team we played, the European champions. On the touchline you realise how incredible they are and you try to find the spaces but they defend well. They waited for the transition to punish and we won from one transition. But for how good they defended we created enough chances to win especially with the intention to go and try to win the game from minute one.
“The only problem we had after 1-0 is they stepped up and when you open the game at the end with Mason Mount,with Hudson-Odoi with Timo Werner and Lukaku now you’re in a dangerous position. Again, the team was incredible, we were brilliant.”
Tuchel on Lukaku’s performance
Thomas Tuchel touched on the performance of Romelu Lukaku who failed to convert Chelsea’s biggest chance of the game and looked like a lonely figure up top. Tuchel said:
Sometimes he “[Romelu Lukaku] needs to do the service, I think he is included. He had many ball losses without any pressure and many ball losses in very promising circumstances.
Of course he had a huge chance so he’s included in this. We want to serve him but he’s part of the team and the performance up front especially in the first half can be better. We need to do better.
“We will never give up but if City keep winning every game we will never catch them.”
Five things we learned as Kevin De Bruyne strike extends Premier League gap
Manchester City increased their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 13 points as Kevin De Bruyne’s strike earned the defending champions a 1-0 win over second-placed Chelsea.
City dominated possession in the first half but Jack Grealish was denied an opening goal when Kepa Arrizabalaga blocked his shot with an outstretched leg. Romelu Lukaku went close after the break but saw a curling effort saved by Ederson.
The hosts took the lead in the 70th minute when De Bruyne curled in an excellent strike past Kepa from outside of the box,
Five things we learned as Kevin De Bruyne strike sees Man City close in on title
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea: The Belgian’s sublime winner saw the Premier League champions increase their lead at the top of the table to 13 points
Thomas Tuchel reflects on the game
Thomas Tuchel gave his thoughts to Sky Sports after the match and explained how the work from his offensive players was not good enough to ensure Chelsea came away with at least a draw. He said:
The result yes [is disappointing] but this can happen. I think we deserved a draw, I think we defended very, very well and did not allow any big chances.
“One in the first half from a mistake from us but we were not under so much pressure that it was clear they would score. Performance wise this is okay, given that we had to change our back three again.
“Defensive wise I am absolutely okay with that performance, we deserved a draw, it would have been a fair result, but we don’t have it. We have won games like this against City and that feels very different but that is the way it is.
“We had eight or nine offensive transitions and zero touches in the box. That was a big problem today. Offensive wise the performance of the front players was simply a lack of position, a lack of timing and a lack of composure. We lost too many balls too easy and that was a big problem in our game today.”
Reaction from Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne spoke to Sky Sports after a match winning performance for Manchester City put the Premier League champions a firm step closer to regaining their title.
De Bruyne said:
Yeah, obviously it’s a big game and I think they came here with a very good plan, they were tight defensively, but we played a very good game. It’s nice to score the goal, it was important because it’s the only one but I think the team played very well today.
“We knew if we won today we’d make the gap bigger on them. We’ve been in this situation before where we are points ahead but a lot of things can change and the momentum can swing very quickly. I think the team was focused on the job that they needed to do and that’s the only thing that we can do.”
Man City vs Chelsea player ratings: Kevin De Bruyne stars with sensational match-winning strike
Manchester City have gone 13 points clear in the Premier League as they defeated Chelsea 1-0 thanks to a superb Kevin De Bruyne strike.
It was a game regarded as one Chelsea had to win as City are unlikely to drop many points for the rest of the season. But the Blues weren’t clinical enough in the final third.
Here are the player ratings from the Etihad Stadium:
Man City vs Chelsea player ratings as Kevin De Bruyne stars
Man City 1-0 Chelsea: Kevin de Bruyne sent City 13 points clear after strong Chelsea defence halted earlier chances
Man City 1 - 0 Chelsea
No side has led the Premier League 13 points or more with 16 games to go and failed to lift the trophy at the end of the season. Manchester City are in prime position to regain their title now.
Liverpool have a couple of games in hand and could cut City’s lead to eight but it’s still a mountain to climb for the chasing pack.
Man City 1 - 0 Chelsea
90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play. Man City are going to open up a 13 point lead if they can close out this game.
Man City 1 - 0 Chelsea
87 mins: Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan come on for Manchester City replacing Phil Foden and - as of right now - matchwinner Kevin De Bruyne.
City are trying to manage the remaining time but Mount gets the ball into space on the right and swings a cross over to Lukaku. John Stones gets to the ball before the Chelsea striker and boots it clear.
Man City 1 - 0 Chelsea
84 mins: Chance! Phil Foden has the chance to secure the points for Manchester City. Raheem Sterling brings the ball in from the right and lays it off to Foden. He lets the ball run across his body and hits one with his left foot. He doesn’t catch it quite right though and lifts the effort over the crossbar.
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