Man United draw level at top with Liverpool
Fernandes’ fifteenth objective of the season settled a high-quality New Year’s Day encounter after Bertrand Traore had canceled out Anthony Martial’s first-half opener for the house facet.
Liverpool nonetheless lead United on objective distinction, however after a stuttering begin to the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s staff has been on a formidable run within the league.
A 3rd straight residence win and 7 wins within the final 9 has seen United cost up the league to occupy its highest place at the flip of the yr because the final season of Alex Ferguson’s reign as supervisor in 2012-13, when the English title was final gained by the Red Devils.
Solskjær was delighted with the victory however has been taking part in down his staff’s title possibilities.
“It’s early in the season and we shouldn’t get too carried away with three points,” he instructed Sky Sports.
“We have improved and we are getting better in the league and the season is going to be tight so we just to keep working and improving as a team.”
With Jack Grealish pulling the strings, Villa, so near being relegated final season, is a staff reworked on this marketing campaign. It took a superb Eric Bailly block to disclaim substitute Keinan Davis at the loss of life to protect United’s lead.
Villa stays in sixth place, seven factors adrift of the leaders, however with a recreation in hand.
Villa supervisor Dean Smith was sad with his facet’s efficiency within the first half which noticed United push the tempo with Martial, Fernandes and Paul Pogba all having good efforts earlier than Martial put the house facet forward simply earlier than halftime.
Pogba and Marcus Rashford mixed in midfield to ship away Aaron Wan-Bissaka whose cross was headed residence at the close to publish by the Frenchman, his first objective from open play this season.
John McGinn’s strike was the closest Villa got here to scoring within the first half however the customer was the primary to strike within the second as a fast free kick discovered Grealish to cross for Bertrand Traore to neatly management and fireplace residence.
The sides have been level for simply three minutes when Pogba wriggled his method into the field and Douglas Luiz tripped him with the lightest of touches from behind.
Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot but it surely took an additional video assistant referee verify for the penalty to be confirmed.
Smith mentioned after the match he believed it was the improper choice, however Fernandes made no mistake with the penalty previous Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez, his eleventh objective within the league this marketing campaign.
As the match opened up, Pogba couldn’t convert from shut vary, Fernandes had a shot tipped onto the crossbar and Rashford blazed simply over from the following nook.
Villa additionally threatened and Tyrone Mings headed simply large from a Grealish free kick whereas Anwar El Ghazi was denied by a last-ditch stretched clearance from Wan-Bissaka.
Bailly’s heroics noticed him surrounded by teammates at the tip earlier than the ultimate whistle blew with United holding on to a few valuable factors.
West Ham enhance
Earlier, West Ham put an finish to Everton’s latest high quality run with a 1-0 win at Goodison Park due to a late objective from Tomas Soucek.
He adopted up a deflected Aaron Cresswell shot to attain his fifth of the season within the 86th minute, guiding his shot previous Jordan Pickford.
Goalscoring alternatives at Goodison have been few and much between with just one shot on track within the first half whereas the second half provided little extra when it comes to leisure.
The finest probability fell to West Ham’s Pablo Fornals, however he headed weakly large from a great place.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez got here on as a second-half substitute after an harm layoff, however was unable to spark a house revival earlier than the Hammers made the late breakthrough.
West Ham boss David Moyes was claiming his first win towards the staff he previously managed, whereas Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton keep in fourth, 4 factors off the top.
“A really good, professional job,” mentioned Moyes, praising his staff for ending a run of three video games in six video games so strongly.
Covid uncertainty
Meanwhile, the continued Covid-19 disaster might impression on Sunday’s fixtures with Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola revealing that he might be with out 5 gamers for the deliberate key conflict with Chelsea.
City mentioned on Christmas Day that there have been 4 constructive circumstances at the membership, together with Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus, inflicting Monday’s match with Everton to be postponed at quick discover.
Further testing has thrown up extra constructive circumstances, together with three extra squad members whose id has not been revealed.
Fulham’s match at fellow strugglers Burnley can also be unsure with the outcomes of additional testing of its squad awaited.
Its London derby on Wednesday towards Tottenham Hotspur was known as off at quick discover, a call labeled as “unprofessional” by Spurs boss Jose Mourinho as he ready his facet for a house recreation towards Leeds United on Saturday.
