Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the action as Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield
There was no happy homecoming for Steven Gerrard, no “celebrating like a crazy devil,” no narratives feeding into future ambitions. The man he termed “100 per cent the best player in the world now” saw to that, firing in a low, hard penalty to further Liverpool’s title fight.
Mohamed Salah’s direct goal contribution ticked over to 14 consecutive league games, his 67th-minute winner deflating an Aston Villa side that departed without a shot on target.
The task was not to make it easy for Liverpool, but Gerrard’s men didn’t figure it would be this hard to conjure threat of their own.
The scoreline belied a story of enterprise versus total obstruction, with substitute Diogo Jota missing a glorious chance late on to make that more clear.
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo is the third player to score for three different Man Utd managers (Solskjaer, Carrick, Rangnick) in a single season after James Hanson and Joe Spence both did so in 1926-27 (Chapman, Hilditch, Bamlett).
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
There have been six penalties scored in the Premier League today - only once has there been more netted on a single day in the competition’s history (7 on 5th February 2011).
Premier League standings
That win propels Manchester United up to fifth in the Premier League table and level on points with West Ham (4th) though the Hammers have a game in hand on Ralf Rangnick’s men.
Norwich had the opportunity to move off the bottom of the table but that defeat keeps them there.
Norwich vs Man United result and five things we learned as Cristiano Ronaldo penalty earns narrow win
Manchester United made it three Premier League wins in a row under Ralf Rangnick as they claimed a 1-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Norwich made a bright start but United went closest as Alex Telles’ deflected free kick hit the top of the bar. Cristiano Ronaldo produced a save from Tim Krul as he cut onto his left foot and Harry Maguire’s header on the stroke of half time also needed to be tipped over the bar by the Norwich goalkeeper, as the sides went into the break level.
David de Gea made a fine save to deny a rising Teemu Pukki shot after half-time, before United were handed the chance to take the lead from the spot. Ronaldo was fouled by Norwich defender Max Aarons and picked himself up to dispatch the penalty past Krul.
Five things we learned as Cristiano Ronaldo penalty seals Man United win over Norwich
Norwich 0-1 Manchester United: Ronaldo’s seventh Premier League goal of the season earns Ralf Rangnick’s side a third league win in a row
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
Ralf Rangnick is the second Manchester United manager to register a clean sheet in his first two league games in charge of the club after Ernest Mangnall in 1903.
Full-time: Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
90+5 mins: There goes the final whistle and Ralf Rangnick has another win under his belt as Manchester United coach. Crisitano Ronaldo and David De Gea were the heroes for the visitors today. Norwich remain bottom of the table after their 10th defeat of the season.
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
90+2 mins: Save! The free kick is whipped into the box from the left wing. Ronaldo flicks it on and Kabak arrives at the back post to head it towards goal but De Gea cannot be beaten! He leaps across once again and keeps it out. United’s goalkeeper has been fantastic today.
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
90 mins: Five minutes of added time to play at Carrow Road. Plenty of time for another goal yet. Van de Beek fouls Cantwell and Norwich have a good chance to swing the ball into the box.
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
88 mins: Fred weaves forward on the right and threads a pass into Fernandes. He spins in the box and hits a snapshot at goal but pulls it wide of the near post!
That’s his last involvement as well. Donny van de Beek comes on to replace him for the last few minutes.
Norwich 0 - 1 Man Utd
86 mins: Chance! It should be two-nil! Telles wins the ball off Aarons and slides a pass up to Rashford. He drives towards the ball and dribbles around Kabak taking the ball into the box. He pulls the ball into the six-yard box where Ronaldo is wide open and he boots his effort over the crossbar! How’s he missed?
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