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. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    P:That’s Garnacho going into my fantasy premier league team

    BrightonBard: Captain Bruno setting an example again. Show him a red!

  2. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa

    Marcus Rashford gets a deep tissue massage after a knock to the knee, but he's able to continue.

    He's having a really good second half is Rashford, bossing the left.

  3. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 77 mins

    Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa kill the clock with two subs. Moussa Diaby replaces Jacob Ramsey who's on a yellow.

    Leon Bailey is off for Nicolò Zaniolo who scored a very late goal against Sheffield United last time out.

  4. YELLOW CARDSpublished at 75 mins

    Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa

    Yellow cards all over the shop now. Two of them, one for each side.

    Bruno Fernandes gets a yellow for a reaction when he's not allowed to take a free-kick quickly.

    And Diego Carlos is booked for a cynical foul on Rasmus Hojlund moments later.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Fair play to United. The tempo and desire seems to have returned and it's typical that it has returned against Villa!

    Jay

    What a bizarre time to be living in where Liverpool, Arsenal and City fans are all hoping United get a third.

    Dan, London

    Isn't there some cliche about the danger of going 2-0 up too early in a game? Villa haven't been at it in anything like the same way since the second went in, whereas Man Utd have gone for broke.

    Chris

  6. CLOSE!published at 73 mins

    Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa

    Straight down the other end and Aston Villa are almost back ahead, but for a brilliant block from Jonny Evans!

    Alex Moreno skips down the left, cuts the ball back, and John McGinn blasts a shot that's destined for the net, but Evans sticks out a big boot to keep it out.

    Clutch stuff.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    Villa showing why they aren’t in the title race. 2-0 up and looked comfortable and yet now it’s 2-2 and only Utd look like scoring any more. Villa have blown this.

    Paul

  8. 'We've got a proper game on now!'published at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villa

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on Amazon Prime

    Do you know something, Garnacho deserves that goal.

    He sis always so positive, picks up the ball and runs at people, drives forward. The ball falls to him near the edge of the box and he shoots, takes a definite deflection from the defender, but a good goal nonetheless.

    We've got a proper game on now!

    Garnacho screams in delight at equalising for United.Image source, Getty Images
  9. goal

    GOAL - Man Utd 2-2 Aston Villapublished at 21:31 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    Alejandro Garnacho (71 mins)

    Manchester United have woken up!

    Alejandro Garnacho starts this move off, feeding Bruno Fernandes down the right whose low cross ricochets back to the forward.

    This is his moment, he gets his head down and blasts the ball goalwards and his shot hits a defender and loops over the line.

    United are back!

    Garnacho fires past Martinez to equalise for United.Image source, Reuters
  10. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    OK, United are playing some really nice football, but, some of the defending from Villa has been atrocious. This time Raphael Varane carves the visitors open, feeding Alejandro Garnacho who wins United a corner.

    They can't do much with it though.

  11. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Ten Hag waves his hands and screams to the crowd to encourage more support.Image source, Reuters

    Just over 20 minutes to go and Old Trafford, which sounded lifeless earlier, is full of noise.

  12. The referee can't winpublished at 21:28 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    There was an incident then where Unai Emery was yelling for a free-kick, then when it was given, Erik ten Hag started berating the linesman and the fourth official.

    That is the definition of a no-win situation for referee Craig Pawson.

  13. Postpublished at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on Amazon Prime

    If Hojlund is not offside then it is a penalty.

    Carlos clearly catches him in the chest. Luckily for Villa the offside flag has saved them.

  14. VAR

    Video Assistant Refereepublished at 66 mins

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Rasmus Hojlund goes down in the area, getting beyond the final defender before being tripped by Diego Carlos.

    What's it going to be? Penalty, surely?

    Oh nope, offside is signalled by the referee. He's right too, VAR confirms Hojlund timed his run to meet Marcus Rashford's fine ball over the top too early.

    Hojlund shouts for a penalty after being brought down in the box.Image source, Getty Images
  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:24 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    The past 10 years for United remind us of how good Ferguson actually was and how success trends correlate to a genius manager in harmony with his club. Guardiola, Klopp etc.

    Eoin

  16. CLOSE!published at 64 mins

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Oh we are in for a Christmas cracker now folks!

    End-to-end stuff as Manchester United burst forward. Alejandro Garnacho glides past his defender on the right and fires in a driven shot that goes just past the far post.

  17. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Manchester United are hopeless at defending corners. Ezri Konsa has a free-header but nods his effort over the bar.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:23 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

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    As a Chelsea fan, this just shows why and how we are a bottom half team. We really lost to ‘this’ team. How depressing!

    Ryan

    At 0-2 Villa switched off. United haven't switched on. Villa have switch off.

    Mike

  19. CLOSE!published at 60 mins

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Almost 3-1 Villa.

    It's superb from Leon Bailey who's switched on from the restart, gets the ball on to his stronger foot, and fires a crisp shot which Andre Onana just about palms behind.

  20. Ten Hag's emotional rollercoasterpublished at 21:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2023

    Man Utd 1-2 Aston Villa

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Erik ten Hag was punching the air in delight when he thought Manchester United had scored.

    He then raced from his seat demanding a red card for Emi Martinez when he sent Marcus Rashford flying.

    In both instances, the Dutchman was left disappointed.

    Now he does have something to celebrate.

    Should be an exciting last half hour.