Rasmus Hojlund’s first Premier League goal earned Manchester United a remarkable turnaround victory as they beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a Christmas cracker at Old Trafford. 

Villa led 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker, but a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and an 82nd-minute strike from Hojlund, his first in 15 top-flight matches, sealed Man Utd’s first win in four league matches.

Unai Emery’s side had the chance to move joint-top with Liverpool, but instead left empty handed as they suffered a first defeat in 11 matches across all competitions.

How the match unfolded

Man Utd made four changes from the 2-0 defeat at West Ham United with Raphael Varane, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford coming into the side.

Villa, meanwhile, made two changes, with Ezri Konsa starting at right-back instead of Matty Cash and Dendoncker getting the nod ahead of Moussa Diaby.

Both sides were evenly matched in the opening exchanges before Villa opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

From a wide free-kick, McGinn’s inswinging cross evaded the crowd of players inside the penalty area and nestled into the far corner.

McGinn’s strike meant that it was the first time that a Villa player has scored a direct free-kick away from home since March 2014, when Ashley Westwood also did the same at Old Trafford.

The visitors then doubled their advantage five minutes later as Dendoncker produced a fine improvised finish from close range after an unmarked Clement Lenglet had headed across goal from McGinn’s corner.

Man Utd thought they had reduced the deficit at the start of the second half when Garnacho received a pass from Marcus Rashford before rounding Emiliano Martinez to score into an empty net, but the winger’s goal was overturned following a VAR review for offside.

That goal did come at some cost to Villa though as an injured Lucas Digne had to be replaced.

But United kept asking questions of Villa’s defence and Garnacho was not to be denied a second time as he and Rashford combined before the Argentinian tapped into an empty net to bring Man Utd back into the contest on 59 minutes.

Incredibly, it was United’s first goal for 439 minutes in all competitions since Scott McTominay’s winner against Chelsea earlier this month.

Villa remained a threat, though, and straight after kick-off, Leon Bailey forced a good save from Onana.

But it was United who struck next in the 71st minute as Garnacho’s deflected strike from 10 yards out crept in.

Jonny Evans produced a goalline clearance to prevent McGinn from scoring his second goal as this absorbing contest continued to ebb and flow.

It was United who were carrying the greater threat, though, and they completed the turnaround through Hojlund’s first Premier League goal.

An inswinging corner wasn’t cleared by McGinn and the ball fell to Hojlund, whose volley went in off the inside of a post. 

Despite nine minutes of additional time, Man Utd held firm and kept Villa at bay as they secured a vital three points to ease the pressure on Erik ten Hag.

Man Utd report | Villa report

Match officials

Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Richard West, Steve Meredith. Fourth official: Rob Jones. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.