Aston Villa vs Man Utd: Player ratings and analysis as Coutinho enjoys dream debut on Premier League return

Aston Villa 2-2 Man Utd (Ramsey 77′, Coutinho 82′ | Fernandes 6′, 67′)

Philippe Coutinho. It had to be. The renewal of vows with Steven Gerrard made for the fairytale ending. A win would have been better, of course but given Manchester United’s second goal was the signal for his introduction, the draw felt good enough.

Aston Villa, new signings, a new manager, optimism swelling, the unmistakable sense of a team renewed. United, by contrast, shapeless, brittle, failing. Except this is not how the match played out. In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, his ageing hips catching up with him, United were a unified force. It may have been co-incidence. They might even have been heeding his words, his masterly call to show greater commitment and duty spoken in the post FA Cup confessional. My name’s Cristiano and I’m a professional.

United have felt worse in victory. The kind they delivered against Villa on Monday for example. Here they were worth their two-goal advantage and might have extended it before Villa’s pressure eventually paid. This was the best we have seen under Ralf Rangnick. Though the old convulsions returned as Villa cranked up the heat, there was little scope for reproach. The same opponent tormented United at Old Trafford five days earlier despite losing. So what was different?

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Anthony Elanga for one. The kid appeared something of a revelation on the left, or perhaps it was more the contrasting shape he struck skipping past people on both sides at great pace. There was none of the hesitancy of Jadon Sancho or the yips of Marcus Rashford. This fella looked like he enjoyed the job of representing Manchester United. On the other wing, Mason Greenwood was as bright as he has been for some time, swerving this way and that with the bounce of old, if you can express it that way when speaking of a 20-year-old.

United enjoyed the early gift of providence, the bottom falling out of Emiliano Martinez’s world in the sixth minute. It was an oh dear moment, a rather stabbed shot by Bruno Fernandes slipping soap-like first through his grasp and then the gate. Martinez wished for a similar chasm to suck him away in shame. Villa were anaemic, perhaps slowed by the shape and cohesion of United. Half an hour passed before Villa mustered a shot, a tame one at that from Ollie Watkins. United were rolling along with 60 per cent possession, and then, as Villa began to rouse themselves Emiliano Buendia flashed a header the brought the habitual cat-like brilliance from DeGea and Lucas Digne volleyed a shot against the keeper’s knees.

Villa were now in something akin to peak Gerrard mode, snapping into tackles, driving into spaces, running hard, just as they had at Old Trafford. The difference here is they ran into a team that not only had a plan but where capable of executing it. Whilst Villa orchestrated the big power plays after the break, United attacked sylph-like on the counter, the pace of Elanga and Greenwood slicing through. They gained their reward via a ravishing strike from Fernandes, who took a touch before smashing the ball into the net off the underside of the bar, the bulge of the net providing emphatic proof of the power of the strike.

As improved as United were they are still carrying important flaws. Edinson Cavani was puffing about the paddock like an old motor with a blown gasket. And with Elanga running out of experience it made it easier for Villa to build from the back. As Fred and Fernandes began to slow so those familiar midfield gaps began to appear.

Rangnick missed a trick in not introducing Sancho and particularly Jesse Lingard earlier, to punch into space and stretch Villa’s rearguard. Tyrone Mings was a target all night for impatient Villa fans and looked vulnerable whenever Greenwood ran at him. Mings had his moment at the other end, reprising the quick feet and directional change of Coutinho to fashion the opening for Jacob Ramsey’s excellent opener.

And then along came Coutinho four minutes later to stab Villa Level. The place went beserk, one of those moments that felt like a higher authority was at work. Coutinho has been a great player and might be again. It was instinct that took him to the back post and muscle memory that steered the ball home. Until that point the man he escaped, Rafael Varane, had been faultless, a patrician presence at the back. The one moment he let his guard down, perhaps not expecting the ghost like movement of Coutinho, the night fell in on him.

Villa were worth their point. Yet few would disagree that had United held out, there would have been merit in the result.

Man of the match – Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes hasn’t looked an ideal fit for Rangnick’s 4-2-2-2 formation and it was no surprise that he was far more effective in his more natural role as a No 10. While there was a degree of fortune about his opener given Martinez made an uncharacteristic error, his second was brilliantly executed. As good as Fernandes was, he was overshadowed by another playmaker as Coutinho salvaged a point for his new club.

How did Villa’s debutants fare?

Steven Gerrard has certainly been backed during the January transfer window, with Villa’s board sanctioning the loan signing of Coutinho from Barcelona and the £23m purchase of Digne from Everton.

Gerrard opted to start Digne at left-back, while Coutinho was named on the bench and introduced as a substitute with just over 20 minutes to go, after Gerrard had confirmed he wasn’t fully fit on Friday.

Digne has been signed to provide greater attacking impetus to Villa’s left flank and the Frenchman certainly looked to make an impact in the final third by whipping crosses into the box at any opportunity and having two shots on goal. The 28-year-old was also booked for a mistimed challenge on Diogo Dalot.

Coutinho’s first meaningful contribution was to fluff an attempted corner but he soon got to grips with the tempo of the game. His presence inside the penalty area caused confusion and led to Ramsey’s goal, before he made it 2-2 with a tap-in after ghosting unchecked into the six-yard-box.

Coutinho: It was a good start – I’m very happy to be here

Coutinho was delighted to get off to a good start with Villa after enduring a difficult spell with his parent club Barcelona in the first half of the campaign.

“I missed these games, I missed the Premier League,” the former Liverpool midfielder said after the game. “Like I said before, I’m very happy to be here, to meet my new teammates. So yes, it was a good start. I think we had a good game, we kept believing until the end and could win the game.

“I was a little bit [nervous]. I don’t speak English very well, I prefer to play and be on the pitch than to keep talking so I’m happy. It’s the first game so we move on. I want to work hard to improve and be in better shape.

“I’m happy to play with all the guys here, they are all really good. I’ve had many ups and downs [at Barcelona] but it’s already in the past. I’m here and I want to focus on the objectives of the club and the manager and I want to do a good job to help my teammates and the club.”