Browns WR Amari Cooper (heel) inactive Thursday night vs. Jets Amari Cooper won't have a chance to follow up on the greatest game by a wide receiver in Cleveland Browns history. Cooper will surprisingly be inactive for the Browns' Thursday night tilt against the visiting New York Jets due to a heel injury. A non-participant all week in practice who drew a questionable designation, Cooper will be held out of Week 17 action just four days after a historic showing in Week 16. Cooper turned in a Browns single-game record of 265 receiving yards during a win over the Houston Texans. He had 11 receptions and a pair of touchdowns, leading to him being lauded as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week . However, quarterback Joe Flacco will have to look for an interim WR1 now with Cooper unavailable. Cooper, who will miss his first game with the Browns after star...
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Manchester United vs Aston Villa 3-2: Premier League
It’s a wrap
When United went into the tunnel down 0-2, it seemed like more of the same after what has been a tough season in all competitions for the side.
But the manner in which they picked themselves up and then imposed upon Aston Villa in the second half showed plenty of intent.
The efforts of their front three, Garnacho, Rashford and Hojlund, ensured they picked up the three points despite the odds and the fans will be buzzing about this result as we head into the new year.
As for the Villans, they will feel hard done by as they dropped points for the first time this season at home on Friday, before failing to convert a lead against United at Old Trafford today.
With this result, United enter the top six of the table, while Villa hold down third place.
Thank you for keeping us company and we look forward to you joining us again as we continue to cover select Premier League matches this season.
Garnacho puts in clinical performance
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Alejandro Garnacho was not even born when Cristiano Ronaldo made his Manchester United debut, but two decades later his own thrilling breakthrough is carrying echoes of his idol's.
In the space of under two weeks, the 18-year-old has scored in the Europa League, produced two match-winning assists in the Carabao Cup, and now fired a first Premier League goal in the most dramatic circumstances possible to beat Fulham.
Erik ten Hag called him an "extra player" as he delighted at his sudden emergence at Craven Cottage and there was praise from elsewhere too. "He has the world at his feet," said Jamie Redknapp. "He has a lot of talent," added a smiling Bruno Fernandes.
Memorable debut goal for Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund said he was the “happiest man alive” after scoring his Premier League goal in Manchester United’s 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Hojlund netted the winning goal at Old Trafford in the 82nd minute of the clash with Unai Emery’s high-flying Villa.
Hojlund scores first Premier League goal
“It’s been a while but I’m happy,” the 20-year-old told Amazon Prime at full-time.
“I’m the happiest man alive right now - you can see in the celebrations as well. We believe until the end and we showed a lot of character again today.”
Champions League goals
The Denmark international had already made his mark in the Champions League, scoring five goals for United in six group-stage games since joining from Serie A side Atalanta.
“I’ve scored a couple in the Champions League but of course it’s been a while in the Premier League,” he said.
“ I’m happy to get the first one and now hopefully I can keep going.”
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Full-time
Old Trafford unleashes a collective roar as the referee blows the final whistle.
United’s unbeaten Boxing Day run continues unimpeded as they successfully come back from 0-2 in the first half, to win 3-2.
Garnacho led the way with a brace, before Hojlund placed the cherry on top with a debut goal for Manchester United.
Emery will feel like this was an opportunity missed after having United on the floor, but credit to ten Hag in his ability to motivate his troops to a higher level, which was evident today.
Full-time: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
United battening down hatches
The Red Devils are looking to run down the clock as much as possible, while leaving themselves open to instigate a counter where appropriate.
Emery is urging on his men to produce one last moment of brilliance as the match nears its conclusion.
90+9 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
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United make more changes
Eriksen and Garnacho are shown plenty of love by the fans as they are whisked off the pitch.
In their place comes on Daniel Gore and Hannibal Mejbri.
90+5 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
Garnacho fails to convert
After making a long run from the left side, the Argentinian is closed down by his marker as he tries to fire a shot past him at the top of the box.
Antony was just to the right of him but given how Garnacho is a goal away from a hat-trick, it is unsurprising he chose not to pass.
90+2 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
Nine minutes added
Given how much has gone down in this second half, we will have nine more minutes of added time.
The announcement is predictably met with much groaning and moaning from the home fans.
90 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
United make substitution
Hojlund is given a hero’s send-off after putting the home side ahead in the dying embers of the match.
He is replaced by Willy Kambwala.
89 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
Emery makes reactionary changes
With not much time left on the clock, Emery opts to take off goal-scorers McGinn and Dendoncker for Jhon Duran and Tim Iroegbunam.
86 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
GOAL!
United come from 2-0 down to go up 3-2 thanks to Hojlund!
The goal comes from a corner taken on the left side.
The ball lands perfectly for the Danish international, who is able to volley it to the top left of the goal to send Old Trafford into sheer ecstasy.
They have earned this after putting in an immense collective performance after two goals went past them in the space of five minutes in the first half.
82 mins: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
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United make double substitution
Antony and Scott McTominay are brought on for an ailing Rashford and Mainoo respectively.
81 mins: Manchester United 2-2 Aston Villa
Emery makes double change
Bailey and Ramsey are taken off in favour of Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo for Aston Villa.
78 mins: Manchester United 2-2 Aston Villa
Evans makes key intervention
Villa almost score the go-ahead goal just minutes after Douglas’s own goal.
The ball ends up at the feet of Luiz, who aims for the bottom right of the goal.
Onana is beaten all ends up, given the close range of the opportunity, but Evans is positioned in the right place to stick his right boot out and stop the ball from going past the line.
Fernandes is booked soon after after his protest at how quickly the initial free kick which led up to the play was taken.
73 mins: Manchester United 2-2 Aston Villa
GOAL!
With just more than 20 minutes left, both ten Hag and Emery are willing their troops on given the current scoreline.
Garnacho answers the call with a shot on goal, which gets a crucial deflection off Carlos’s leg as Martinez ends up diving the wrong way.
71 mins: Manchester United 2-2 Aston Villa
Hojlund brought down inside the box
Rashford delivers a cross from the left side, with the Danish international being his intended receiver.
After receiving the ball, Hojlund makes a run for it as he creates just enough separation from his marker.
Carlos brings him down from the back, with the United players and supporters screaming for an instant penalty.
However, the linesman stands all on his own as he raises the flag to signal offside on the play.
66 mins: Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa
Garnacho goes wide
After his marker slips, Garnacho makes a bee-line for the net from the right side.
With Hojlund available inside the box, the Argentinian decides instead to try his luck instead.
He aims for the near post but ends up straying wide.
Hojlund is visibly upset at his strike partner, and for good reason, after that attempt.
64 mins: Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa
Onana denies Bailey
Bailey has a wonderful opportunity at the net as the ball finds him inside the box.
He tries to go to the left of Onana from point-blank range but the Cameroonian makes a wonderful reflex save, which not only stops the initial chance but also prevents any kind of rebound.
61 mins: Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa
Garnacho slots past Martinez as this time, there should be no doubt about the veracity of the goal.
A blunder from the Aston Villa defence allows for a quick counter to be sprung.
The ball once again finds Rashford as he is clean on goal on the left side.
Garnacho is open on the far right and Rashford coolly passes it through, with Garnacho easing the ball into the right side of the net.
United thoroughly deserved that after the good work they have put in so far this half.
59 mins: Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa
Manchester United MUST consult Sir Jim Ratcliffe if they want to sack Erik ten Hag while the INEOS owner's £1.3billion investment is being ratified - with approval process set to take between four and six weeks
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe £1.3bn investment in Man United was announced last week
- There is a four to six week period before Ratcliffe's partial takeover is ratified
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Manchester United must consult Sir Jim Ratcliffe if they want to sack Erik ten Hag or sign any players while the INEOS owner’s £1.3billion investment is being ratified.
The clause came to light in a 241-page deal document published on the New York Stock Exchange after it was announced on Christmas Eve that Ratcliffe is buying a quarter of the club and taking charge of football operations at Old Trafford.
It will take between four to six weeks for the 71-year-old to pass the Premier League’s first and proper person test, and for the NYSE to oversee the sale of 25 per cent of the club’s Class A shares that Ratcliffe will acquire from investors in addition to the 25 per cent of Class B shares he is buying from the Glazer family.
- Man United will need to consult Sir Jim Ratcliffe if they wish to sack Erik ten Hag (above)
Murtough is expected to move aside in time to make way for a new director of football, but could be handed an alternative role at the club.
Ten Hag’s position is seen as vulnerable following Ratcliffe’s investment, but the Dutchman got the new era off to a good start as United came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in front of INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford on Tuesday night.
Afterwards, Ten Hag welcomed the deal, saying: ‘I don’t think it has had an impact on the players. For me, I was kept informed in the whole process, so I knew what was going on. We're looking forward. I think it is positive for the club that they are stepping in.
‘They have a lot of experience in sport at the highest level: Formula One, a cycling team, football clubs. They can only help us and support us to get our targets. They want to work with us and we want to work with them.’
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