It has been a season of unpredictability for Manchester United as they strive to return to winning ways and secure a top-four place. They pulled off a miraculous 3-2 comeback against an elated Aston Villa at Old Trafford in the Boxing Day EPL clash on Tuesday.
In a dramatic reversal of the scoreline during the second half, teenage sensation Alejandro Garnacho secured two goals, while Danish striker Rasmus Højlund sealed the victory, putting an end to his Premier League goal drought following huge performances in the Champions League.
Rasmus Højlund nets maiden Premier League goal
Aston Villa’s seven-match unbeaten streak in the league came to an unexpected end, as Unai Emery’s side, previously defeated the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City, and Arsenal during their impressive run of form, was on the verge of adding Ten Hag’s Manchester United to their list of victories.
Despite the Red Devils’ early exit from Europe, finishing last in their group, forward Rasmus Højlund delivered an excellent individual performance in the UEFA Champions League group stage, scoring five goals in six appearances. Unfortunately, his efforts were not enough to propel his side to the last 16.
On the contrary, the 20-year-old striker was still in search of his first league goal in United colors since making his debut appearance against Arsenal back in early September. After 900 minutes of play without finding the net, Rasmus Højlund finally ended his goalless streak against Villa.
Manchester United coming off a defeat against West Ham over the weekend, found themselves down by two goals in the first half at home. However, during the second half, Alejandro Garnacho’s two goals leveled the scoreline to 2-2, serving as inspiration for his side to push for victory. In the 82nd minute, the decisive moment arrived when Bruno Fernandes delivered a corner, and the young striker scored his first goal, putting his side ahead and sparking jubilation in Old Trafford.
Rasmus Højlund on scoring Man United’s winning goal
Rasmus Højlund opened his EPL goals tally in his 15th appearance, bringing his personal goal count to six in 23 matches across all competitions. The former Atalanta forward had faced criticism for his perceived lack of impact in the offensive department. However, with his recent performance, he successfully restored faith among the fans.
Post-match, the forward expressed his thoughts on his first goal stating, “It’s been a while but I’m happy. I’m the happiest man alive right you can see from the celebrations. We believed until the end – we showed a lot of character today.”
“I’ve scored a couple in the Champions League but it’s been a while in the Premier League. I’m happy to get the first one and now hopefully I can build on that. I’m happy for the attackers as well, we showed a lot of character and a lot of confidence,” Rasmus added.
The Red Devils extended their league-winning tally to 10 games with a victory over Aston Villa and a draw, coupled with eight defeats this season. With 31 points in hand, they currently stand in 6th place. Before they take on Forrest in their final game of 2023 they will be looking for a second win on Saturday.
