Man United see nine-match unbe

Manchester United’s Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the UEFA Europa League Group E football match between Manchester United and Omonoia Nicosia, at Old Trafford stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on October 13, 2022. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Man United see nine-match unbeaten streak snapped with CR7 as captain

Man United lost for the first time since early October with a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa despite Cristiano Ronaldo being back from the cold.

Man United see nine-match unbe

Manchester United’s Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the UEFA Europa League Group E football match between Manchester United and Omonoia Nicosia, at Old Trafford stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on October 13, 2022. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Man United lost 3-1 at Aston Villa to see their impressive nine-match unbeaten streak come to an end.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named in the starting 11 and given the captain’s armband with regular skipper Harry Maguire injured. Compatriot Bruno Fernandes was serving a one-match suspension.

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Ronaldo was omitted from the Man United squad altogether when the Red Devils drew 1-1 away to Chelsea on October 22nd. He was, however, brought back from out of the cold and into the fold for recent 1-0 wins over West Ham and Real Sociedad.

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Unai Emery in the dugout vs Man United
Unai Emery in the dugout vs Man United. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP)

Man United put to the sword by Emery’s Villa

Aston Villa were under the tutelage of ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery for the first time, and they scored twice inside 10 minutes to stun Cristiano and his United teammates.

Those goals came via a sweeping Villa move finished off by Leon Bailey’s low drilled shot after a Jacob Ramsey pass, and then Lucas Digne’s sweet free-kick, his first Premier League goal for the club.

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Jacob Ramsey put through his own net deep into stoppage time in the first-half, but he more than atoned by putting Villa 3-1 up in the 49th minute. Man United and CR7 stay fifth on the log, three points behind Spurs who occupy the last Champions League place.

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Tonight’s final Premier League match sees the aforementioned Tottenham welcome Liverpool to London.

Tottenham vs Liverpool teams

Tottenham: Lloris; Dier, Lenglet, Davies; Royal, Bentancur, Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon; Perisic; Kane

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Nunez

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