Summary

  • Man Utd come from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa as Hojlund scores first Premier League goal

  • Garnacho netted twice after United had trailed at half-time

  • FT: Burnley 0-2 Liverpool - Nunez & Jota send Reds top of table

  • FT: Sheff Utd 2-3 Luton - two own goals give Hatters huge win at bottom of table

  • FT: Bournemouth 3-0 Fulham - Kluivert, Solanke & Sinisterra give Cherries resounding win

  • FT: Newcastle 1-3 Nottm Forest - Wood scores hat-trick against former club

  1. 'If we play our best we can beat anyone'published at 22:31 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Manchester United

    Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag speaking to Amazon Prime: "The atmosphere changed a lot from the first half to the second, but if you look at the first half you are losing because of two set plays, in moments where we were not so focused. I think already in the first half we played quite well, and kept trying and trying.

    "At half-time I said to the team, 'keep believing, and keep doing what we did, actually do even more'. We needed to put more and more pressure on. At 1-2 then when we added pressure you see what happened.

    On the response from his players in the second half: "I said before the game that we were competitive with Arsenal, competitive with Liverpool so if we play our best we can beat anyone. Believe that, even when you are two-nil down, it doesn't matter. Keep going, show character, and today they did show we have the personality to do it. I think it was a very good team performance."

  2. 'One of the best days of my life'published at 22:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Manchester United

    Player of the Match Alejandro Garnacho speaking to Amazon Prime: "It is a great feeling. We are Manchester United. We were two-nil down, but we never give up, and it was a great comeback from the team.

    On his second half performance: "Yes I wanted to try and take control of things. I said we just needed one goal to get back into it, I got that first one but it was offside. But as I said before we never give up so it was a case of scoring the first goal and keeping on pressing. I am very happy for Rasmus also to get his first league goal.

    "Too many people talk about the strikers at Man United, that we never score goals or get assists, but you see today Rashford with assists, goals for Rasmus and me. Everyone is very happy.

    Is it more like a Man Utd performance: "Yes I think so. Very happy, one of the best days of my life."

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:25 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Rob: You can’t write off Villa from one game and you can’t say Utd are on the up after one game. Let’s all calm down and look at the bigger picture of both teams.Mo: Let's not get carried away, I've seen it all before one big win and we think we're back....we're NOT...we need to now win 8,9,10 on the bounce!!!

  4. Postpublished at 22:23 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Manchester United are back into the top six. Aston Villa are three points off the top, missing out on a chance to go level with leaders Liverpool.

    Premier League tableImage source, Getty Images/BBC Sport
  5. 'I am the happiest man alive'published at 22:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Manchester United

    Manchester United matchwinner Rasmus Hojlund speaking to Amazon Prime: "It has been a while [waiting for a first league goal] but yes I am very happy. I am the happiest man alive right now. You can see from the celebrations as well. Like [Garnacho] said we believed in ourselves until the very end and got the win today.

    On how tough it was waiting for that first league goal: "As the manager has said before I have scored a few goals in the Champions League but of course it has been a while in the Premier League before scoring. Now I have got it and I hope I can just build on that and keep going.

    "Yes I remember the goal. First-time finish in off the post, good finish so I am happy. I am happy for the three of us attackers as well because we showed a lot of character today, and a lot of confidence."

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:19 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Ratheesh: So all those who were slating Hojlund, ETH etc earlier today, are still out there ? This is just only one game, but let's give them the credit where it is due.

    Kishan: What a game! Comeback victory for United, shades for Man Utd vs Villa 2008/2009

    Marlon: Thank you Man united from all Arsenal supporters

  7. Postpublished at 22:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Erik ten Hag is a very happy man, strutting over to the Amazon Prime crew. He says he's pleased Rasmus Hojlund "the striker" scored the winner.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:14 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Anon: Wonderful performance from United today the first half was scrappy but United definitely turned it around in the second half

    Anon: Re Dan 21:54.... It is now! Great performance by United from 26 mins. Should have won by more. Villa given the goals. They were poor. United get a proper defence back from injury and Hojlund scoring, top 4 is not out of reach...

    Remember to leave your names on texts.

  9. Postpublished at 22:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Your matchwinner Manchester United fans...Premier League goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund:

    Rasmus HojlundImage source, Getty Images
    Rasmus HojlundImage source, Getty Images
    Rasmus HojlundImage source, Getty Images
  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Matthew: Watching Holjund score his goal reminded me of when I first watched my son score in his U12s game back in 86. What a moment.

    Alan, Devon: I know it's not fashionable but you have to (surely) give massive respect to Man Utd. A fantastic comeback full of passion, work rate and belief, everything they said we did not have. I loved it.

  11. Postpublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Manchester United looked dead and buried at half-time. They were all over the place.

    But Alejandro Garnacho inspired them to victory with two, before Rasmus Hojlund finally broke his Premier League duck with the winner.

    Aston Villa have been taught a footballing lesson tonight. They were cruising before United's first!

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Now let's have that spirit and determination for the next 19 games, please United

    Gav

    That performance in the second half has to be the template going forward. That was excellent. Energy, passion, movement off the ball, we need to start every game like this. We can't wait to go 2-0 down to see that.

    Jamie, Leyton

    As a Villa fan, I'm utterly embarrassed by that second half performance. That was like the bad old days for us.

    Chris

    And pop goes Villas season. Not enough fight today and tiredness and insufficient quality in depth now showing. Let's be real. 6th or 7th seems more likely now. And so continues the truly awful record at Old Trafford.

    Rob

  13. 'Incredible transformation'published at 22:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on Amazon Prime

    Hojlund and Onana embrace at full time after victory is sealed.Image source, Reuters

    The transformation from United in the second half from the first was incredible. It is what Erik ten Hag and the home crowd would have wanted, and the side have delivered it.

    We said at half time it would be interesting to see what reaction United would provide in the second half, and boy did they give a big one.

    You have to balance that by saying Villa have been a massive disappointment in the second 45 minutes.

  14. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+10 mins

    Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    WHAT. A. COMEBACK.

    Hojlund holds back tears after scoring his first league goal while being embraced by teammates.Image source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 90+10 mins

    Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Andre Onana launches the ball out of play. Still we go on.

  16. Postpublished at 90+9 mins

    Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Diogo Dalot wins United a free-kick. Almost there.

  17. Postpublished at 90+9 mins

    Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Thirty seconds to go. Villa only just crossing the halfway line...

    Konsa walks back into position while staring down at the floor.Image source, Getty Images
  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    This second half performance by Manchester Utd shows their poor first half of the season was down to the players.

    Mike, Cornwall

    Josh: United are a lucky dip this season. You never know what performance you're going to get from half to half.

    Villa will be lucky to finish top 4.

    Alan

  19. Postpublished at 90+8 mins

    Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Villa have the ball back with a throw.

  20. Postpublished at 90+7 mins

    Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

    Hannibal Mejbri wins a free-kick for Manchester United in the corner.

    Two minutes to go.