Manchester United vs. Aston Villa score: Bruno Fernandes penalty sends Red Devils level with Liverpool

Two of the Premier League's form teams face off at Old Trafford

Manchester United moved level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League as a Bruno Fernandes penalty earned them a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial's stooping header had the Red Devils leading at the interval but they were never able to get out of sight against a Villa side that proved exactly why they have given bloody noses to so many of the Premier League elite this season. After David de Gea saved superbly from Ollie Watkins he found himself unable to deny Bertrand Traore after Jack Grealish's brilliant cross to the back post in the 58th minute.

After his team fought so hard to get back to parity, Villa boss Dean Smith will doubtless have been disappointed to see United retake the lead so easily as Douglas Luiz fouled Paul Pogba in the penalty area and Fernandes netted his ninth top flight penalty since the start of February 2020.

Eric Bailly blocked a low drive from substitute Keinan Davis that might have robbed the home side of the two points they needed to close the gap to Liverpool and the rush to embrace him at full-time emphasised how close Villa had come to upsetting the odds at Old Trafford. Read on for the key talking points from the game:

United's individual moments are just enough

It is often said that it is a mark of champions that they win when they're off colour. Certainly it has been true of United, who have made a habit of it, but the simple reality of modern football is that the best team in the land wins convincingly far more often than they scrape out victories. And yet it certainly can't hurt to be in the habit of making the most out of difficult moments.

Even against Villa, when they were certainly in no sense inferior throughout the first half, they had the one moment of true quality of the first half. A brilliant flick by Paul Pogba opened space on the right flank, Marcus Rashford kept the ball moving shrewdly and Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered just the right cross for Martial's stooping head.

That and an impudent flick by Bruno Fernandes were the only moments when Emiliano Martinez and his backline were really tested but they were moments of such exceptional individual quality that they can require very good defending to stop.

They might now be level at the top of the Premier League but in this game, as with so many other wins for United this season, you would struggle to identify a style of play or a set of principles that guide how they play football. That is not entirely on Solskjaer, who deserves credit for how he tailors his side to their opponents. For instance today Scott McTominay and Fred were the ideal midfield pairing to match the dynamism of Villa.

Instead what United have in abundance is the individual quality to cover up difficult moments, to capitalize on the half chances that their opponents don't and weather the difficulties their team-mates might have. Even when things go wrong at the other end you can rely on someone doing something special, Pogba brilliantly rolling Douglas Luiz to win a penalty in the box moments after Traore's equalizer.

The pure weight of talent Solskjaer can deploy could take United a long way in a season where the title race does not require the same perfect deployment of an excellent gameplan by footballers who are deeply aware of their role and their team-mates' qualities.

Villa prove they belong in upper echelons of Premier League

Not that it should have been a surprise to anyone even if all they had to go on was a cursory glance of the team sheet, but Aston Villa are a very good team. As a collection of individual talent there was no-one in Dean Smith's starting XI that you would not say was at the very least of Premier League standard. There are several, Martinez, John McGinn and of course Jack Grealish, who you could argue rank among the best in the division in their position.

As such it was no wonder they gave as good as they got at Old Trafford, establishing a foothold in the match after weathering an early pressing storm by United. There was composure to how they set about the task against United, not moving the ball with the same velocity that they do in other matches but probing at a porous backline with what looked to be a specific plan to exploit the weak links at full-back, who got little support from Rashford and Pogba.

Grealish's free role allowed him to double up on the flanks with Anwar El Ghazi and Traore and in so doing isolate full-backs or create space for his own overlapping team-mates. Some of Villa's best moves came in that fashion, notably when the No.10 released an overlapping Matty Cash, whose brilliant cross was met by a rasping McGinn volley. On another occasion that might have flown in or David De Gea would not have denied Ollie Watkins in such spectacular fashion.

Notable performances

Jack Grealish: The Villa captain was a joy to watch, stretching his legs across the game in search of United's weak points. When he found them he probed them relentlessly, delivering a string of brilliant crosses that asked questions United's defence often couldn't answer. RATING: 8

Paul Pogba: It was not just the Villa playmaker who lit up this game, indeed it was Pogba whose brilliance swung the tie in United's direction. His control and flicks set the hosts towards the first goal, his strength and movement forced Luiz into the foul for the second. RATING: 8

Emiliano Martinez: He could have done better for United's opener but some of his saves in the second half were downright spectacular. RATING: 6

Premier League outlook

With 33 points from 16 games United and Liverpool are separated only by goal difference at the top of the Premier League, the latter having an eight goal advantage over their rivals. Defeat for Villa sent them slipping below Chelsea and into sixth. 

You can recap the game in its entirety with our live blog below:

[Jan 1, 2021 at 4:59 pm ET · James Benge]

A brilliant block from Eric Bailly denies Davis at the last and you sense United couldn't really have complained if Villa had got the draw. Yet they held impressively firm to the last and now find themselves level with Liverpool at the top of the table. There could be something special going on here, the excitement in Solskjaer's side is clear to see as they rush to embrace Bailly.

[Jan 1, 2021 at 4:53 pm ET · James Benge]

Considering how good Villa's delivery has been from open play it's very notable how rarely they've tested United from dead balls. Mings comes into the penalty area for one now as we enter added time but he's up for no reason as it sails towards the edge of the penalty area, where it is easily cleared.

[Jan 1, 2021 at 4:38 pm ET · James Benge]

Whether it's the quality of the movement or the weaknesses of United's backline it's hard to say but Watkins keeps finding space to outjump them in the area. That's twice now he has had promising chances from headers off Grealish crosses, which it has to be said are delivered with a dip that must make them very hard to defend. The 25-year-old Watkins has struggled for goals of late but he's getting chances to end his drought today.

[Jan 1, 2021 at 4:22 pm ET · James Benge]

And just as I hit publish Grealish delivers a brilliant low cross to find Traore and then Pogba rolls Luiz in the box. VAR are checking this but it's going to be a penalty. Villa could well have been level for all of a few minutes.

[Jan 1, 2021 at 4:21 pm ET · James Benge]

If nothing else you have to admire El Ghazi's remorseless commitment to shooting whatever the circumstances. Of players with over 120 minutes this season no-one attempts more shots per 90 than his 4.44. Even Harry Kane of all people averages about one fewer.