Philippe Coutinho scored a late equaliser on his Aston Villa debut as Steven Gerrard’s side fought back from two goals down to draw a pulsating Premier League duel with Manchester United at Villa Park.
Coutinho was just about to be introduced by Villa boss Gerrard midway through the second half when Bruno Fernandes slammed home his second goal of the game off the underside of the bar.
But the Brazilian proved the catalyst for a memorable response.
First he drove at the United defence, helping to create the space which Jacob Ramsey exploited to halve the deficit.
Then Ramsey slid over an excellent cross from the left which Raphael Varane was unable to intercept as he slid back, leaving Coutinho to finish into an empty net.
The goal brought celebrations at both ends of the pitch as Emiliano Martinez also went into the crowd in relief – it was the Argentine’s horrible sixth-minute error that had gifted Fernandes the visitors’ opener.
Credit bbc.com
