OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER — Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal to complete a sensational comeback and earn Manchester United their first win in five matches.
Aston Villa led by two goals after less than half an hour, but a brace from Alejandro Garnacho kickstarted the second-half comeback. The 19-year-old halved the deficit moments before the hour-mark and broke United’s seven-hour goal drought when he got the better of Emiliano Martinez.
Marcus Rashford picked Garnacho out at the far post after the duo had earlier connected to score in a similar fashion, but VAR disallowed the first effort due to an offside call. Rashford was making his first return to the starting XI since the defeat to Newcastle United earlier in the month, and his role in his side’s transitional play led to several more chances.
Garnacho then equalised with a clinical left-footed finish from outside the box. Bruno Fernandes’ cross took a fortuitous deflection into the path of the Argentina international, who hit it sweetly first time past his compatriot.
Villa fans were heard chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” in the direction of Erik ten Hag as they seized control early in the first half. The visitors benefitted from another Andre Onana mistake from a set-piece, with John McGinn’s free-kick finding the back of the net.
Doubling their lead, Villa then exploited a lapse in concentration from United during a corner, as they left Clement Lenglet unmarked at the back post. Lenglet then assisted Leander Dendoncker, who elegantly finished.
Although boos had echoed at Old Trafford earlier in the season, Dendoncker’s goal marked the earliest occurrence, happening before the half-hour mark.
It’s a week that Unai Emery will be desperate to push to the back of his players’ minds as they dropped their first points at Villa Park this season to relegation battlers Sheffield United three days ago.
Prior to the draw with Blades, Villa were beginning to be labelled ‘title contenders’ after their consecutive 1-0 wins over reigning champions Manchester City and table-toppers Arsenal. Despite a challenging few days, Emery’s side continue to occupy a top-four spot — however, Man City and Tottenham Hotspur both have games in hand.
For United, they will now turn their attention to the banks of the River Trent as they travel to Nottingham Forest on the weekend. Forest picked up their first three points of the Nuno Espirito Santo era with a statement victory at St James’ Park in the early Boxing Day kickoff.
MORE: What are Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans for Man United?
Man United vs Aston Villa final score
| Final score | Goalscorers | |
| Man United | 3 | Garnacho 59′, 70′, Hojlund 82′ |
| Aston Villa | 2 | McGinn 22′, Lenglet 26′ |
Man United vs Aston Villa final score, updates and highlights from Premier League
FT: That’s it! United complete the sensational comeback and pick up their first victory in five games.
BIG THREE POINTS! ➕3️⃣#MUFC || #MUNAVL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2023
90th minute: NINE minutes of added time to play here.
89th minute: The potential match winner makes way for Kambwala, who made his debut at the weekend.
82nd minute: GOAL! 3-2! And what a time to score your first Premier League goal RASMUS HOJLUND!
Rasmus Hojlund has his first Premier League goal! ⚽️
Bruno Fernandes’ corner is eventually turned home and Man Utd lead against Aston Villa#PLonPrime #MUNAVL pic.twitter.com/28HZx7I3pT
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2023
76th minute: Old Trafford is alive for the first time in weeks and the players are responding. They look the likelier to go on and win this one.
72nd minute: Fernandes yet again talks himself into a yellow card. When will he learn?
70th minute: GOAL! 2-2! Garnacho has a second and United are level! Fernandes’ cross takes a fortuitous deflection into the path of the 19-year-old winger who takes a touch and strokes home with his left foot.
63rd minute: Garnacho again with the strike! This time drags it slightly wide. He could have maybe looked to find Hojlund in the box.
59th minute: GOAL! 2-1! Fernandes picks the pocket of Luiz before releasing Rashford down the left and he this time finds Garnacho in an onside position who gets the better of Martinez once again. Game on!
This time Alejandro Garnacho’s goal does count! 🔴
It’s a great counter from Man Utd as the Argentine scores the Red Devils’ first goal in just over seven hours of football #PLonPrime #MUNAVL pic.twitter.com/VeJAJeWmLO
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 26, 2023
55th minute: Martinez wipes out Rashford as the Englishman is hunting down a ball in behind. The Argentine goalkeeper does make contact with the ball first and the referee opts not to card him.
49th minute: NO GOAL! VAR found Garnacho to be offside after Rashford picked him out.
48th minute: GOAL! 2-1! United have one back after a devastating counter-attack and Alejandro Garnacho fires home after taking the ball around Emi Martinez. The youngster showed brilliant composure.
46th minute: The second half is underway. Can United drag themselves back into it? Or will Villa add to the misery?
HT: Loud boos ring around Old Trafford as the players head down the tunnel for half-time.
44th minute: Rashford gets the better of Konsa for the first time tonight but fires a left-footed effort well wide.
39th minute: Villa yet again catch one of United’s forwards offside and another attack breaks down as a result.
35th minute: United have somewhat got themselves back in the game as they’re finding more space in behind. They really need to start creating more clear-cut chances. Rashford was the latest to test Emi Martinez, but it was straight at him.
27th minute: The Villa fans in the corner are now chanting ferociously at Erik ten Hag: “You’re getting sacked in the morning!”
26th minute: GOAL! 0-2 VILLA! The visitors continue to look dangerous and they’ve now scored from the corner as Lenglet tees up Dendoncker who was unmarked in the box.
22nd minute: GOAL! 0-1 VILLA! It’s a deep free-kick by John McGinn to the far post and everybody misses it as it nestles into the back of the net. There was a VAR check to ensure nobody was offside but it’s been confirmed as a goal.
20th minute: If the intensity of this match can continue for the rest of the 90 minutes, we should be in for a cracker. Both sides are looking vulnerable at the back with Villa staying true to their high defensive line.
15th minute: That’s the best transition of the game so far for United as they break down the right brilliantly. Hojlund lays it off to Fernandes who zips a pass in behind for Garnacho to chase but the play breaks down as Eriksen can’t find Rashford on the left, who was in on goal.
10th minute: On his first return to the starting XI since the trip to Newcastle at the start of the month, Rashford starts on the left with Garnacho moving to the right.
8th minute: Villa have certainly started on the front foot and Bailey is causing Dalot a few problems down the right flank.
4th minute: That didn’t take long. Despite the Glazers selling the 25% stake, United fans have begun their anti-Glazer chants.
1st minute: We’re underway at Old Trafford and the hosts get us underway.
5 minutes until kickoff: The players come out of the tunnel and kickoff is next!
15 minutes until kickoff: Following the announcement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in the club, INEOS’ Sir Dave Brailsford, is due to be in attendance tonight. Ten Hag addressed the expected incoming at board level: “Sir Dave Brailsford wants to work with us, we want to work with him. I am looking forward to it.”
30 minutes until kickoff: Chatting to Amazon ahead of the match, Ten Hag said: “If you want to win you have to score, and we want to win.” United are without a goal in their last four matches…
1 hour until kickoff: Team news has just been official. Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen both return to the starting XI for United this evening, as does Diogo Dalot who replaces Luke Shaw at left-back as he is out with a minor issue.
🏟️ For one final time at Old Trafford in 2023…
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2023
Your Aston Villa at Old Trafford! 👊 pic.twitter.com/JT02pO7mLp
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 26, 2023
1 hour 30 mins until kickoff: Some Boxing Day stats for you this evening. Man United are unbeaten in their last 19 Boxing Day home games whereas the Villa have lost on Boxing Day in the last two Premier League seasons.
2 hours until kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of Manchester United vs. Aston Villa from Old Trafford. United will be desperate to put an end to their goal drought this evening, maybe they can take some inspiration from these historic strikes against Aston Villa.
Some iconic #MUNAVL strikes 💥⚽️#MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/3JIRqtdJLD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2023
Man United vs Aston Villa lineups
Ten Hag’s injury list remains extensive with Victor Lindelof out for a while due to surgery and Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez out until the middle of January. Diogo Dalot is back from his one-match suspension after being sent off at Anfield and returns to the starting lineup.
Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans start as the centre-back partnership at the back.
Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): Onana (GK) — Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot — Mainoo, Eriksen — Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho — Hojlund.
Man United subs (12): Daniel Gore, Kambwala, Van de Beek, McTominay, Reguilón,
Bayindir, Mejbri, Antony, Pellistri.
Unai Emery has his own injury issues at the back as Tyrone Mings remains out long-term and Pau Torres is also unavailable. Matty Cash and key midfielder Boubacar Kamara are each suspended.
Aston Villa starting lineup (4-5-1, left to right): Martinez (GK) — Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Digne — Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Dendoncker — Watkins.
Aston Villa subs (12): Iroegbunam, Álex Moreno, Proctor, Diaby, Pau Torres, Zaniolo,
Marschall, Chambers, Durán.
Man United vs Aston Villa live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
USA: This game is being broadcast on the NBC USA Network with streaming available on Fubo.
Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via Fubo in Canada.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.
UK: This match is available to stream via Amazon Prime.
