Philippe Coutinho (left) joined Aston Villa on loan from Barcelona this monthPhilippe 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.
Coutinho the catalyst
Given his background - with Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich - Coutinho is a bold loan signing by Villa, and underlines the pedigree of the man they appointed as manager in November.
Gerrard is not at Villa to learn how to avoid relegation.
His demands remain as high as they were as a player and Coutinho's arrival is an example of that.
Villa are a better team since Gerrard's arrival and, after a sluggish start against opponents they dominated but lost to in the FA Cup five days ago, they grew into the game.
The club's other newboy, Lucas Digne, was among those denied by United keeper David de Gea at the end of the first half - in unorthodox fashion, with his knees.
Ollie Watkins did not really test the Spain keeper when Villa broke after Edinson Cavani lost possession in his own half. However, Emi Buendia certainly did with a near-post header. Rooted to his line, De Gea's reactions were up to the job as he beat Buendia's effort away.
When De Gea produced more saves after half-time to deny Ramsey and Digne again, it appeared the image of the night for Villa would be midfielder Morgan Sanson kicking a drinks bottle in fury after his error in gifting Fred possession to set up Fernandes for the visitors' second had been followed immediately by his substitution.
However, as it was the prelude to Coutinho's arrival, it was the moment that changed the course of the game - and the acclaim for the Brazilian at the final whistle indicated Villa's fans are already firmly behind him.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
1Martínez
2Cash4Konsa5Mings27Digne
8Sanson6Douglas Luiz41J Ramsey
11Watkins20Ings10Buendía
1Martínez2Cash4KonsaSubstituted forHauseat 45'minutes5Mings27DigneBooked at 27mins8SansonSubstituted forCoutinhoat 68'minutes6Douglas Luiz41J Ramsey11Watkins20IngsSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 76'minutes10BuendíaSubstitutes
3Targett12Steer18Young23Coutinho29Hayden30Hause33Chukwuemeka35Archer47IroegbunamMan Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
20Dalot2Lindelöf19Varane27Telles
17Fred31Matic
11Greenwood18Bruno Fernandes36Elanga
21Cavani
1de Gea20Dalot2Lindelöf19Varane27Telles17Fred31MaticBooked at 31mins11GreenwoodSubstituted forLingardat 89'minutes18Bruno FernandesBooked at 46minsSubstituted forvan de Beekat 89'minutes36ElangaSubstituted forSanchoat 78'minutes21CavaniSubstitutes
4Jones5Maguire8Mata14Lingard22Heaton25Sancho26Henderson34van de BeekLive Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Manchester United 2.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 2, Manchester United 2.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Kortney Hause.
Attempt blocked. Donny van de Beek (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jadon Sancho.
Offside, Aston Villa. Matthew Cash tries a through ball, but Ollie Watkins is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Douglas Luiz.
Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Mason Greenwood.
Substitution, Manchester United. Donny van de Beek replaces Bruno Fernandes.
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía.
Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Goal! Aston Villa 2, Manchester United 2. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Jacob Ramsey.
Substitution, Manchester United. Jadon Sancho replaces Anthony Elanga.
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Manchester United 2. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner.
Substitution, Aston Villa. Carney Chukwuemeka replaces Danny Ings.
Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Matthew Cash with a cross.
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