Man United loanee Marcus Rashford shows flashes of his brilliance in first start for Aston Villa | OneFootball

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford played a key role for Aston Villa as they earned a valuable point at home against table leaders Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Mohamed Salah gave the visitors the lead just before the half-hour mark, firing into the back of an empty net after a mistake from Andrés García.

Nine minutes later, Villa restored parity. Rashford swung in a brilliant free-kick from out wide, which Liverpool failed to clear, allowing an unmarked Youri Tielemans to volley home.

Unai Emery’s men took the lead just before the break courtesy of Ollie Watkins, who finished off a slick move from his head by heading the ball in.

The Merseyside outfit stepped up the ante and levelled affairs in the 61st minute as Trent Alexander Arnold’s strike took a huge deflection off Tyrone Mings to beat a helpless Emi Martinez.

Rashford was on the pitch for 67 minutes, having been handed his first star by Emery since he joined them on deadline day of the January transfer window.

The Carrington academy graduate touched the ball 39 times and successfully found his teammates with 16 of the 22 passes he attempted.

He managed to connect with just one of the six crosses he attempted and found his intended target with the one long ball he delivered.

Rashford tested Alisson on one occasion but he couldn’t hit the target. He completed two of the four dribbles he embarked on.

The 27-year-old won four of the seven ground duels he delved into and put in one tackle.

(Stats obtained from Sofascore)

The forward came close to providing an assist in the first half with a brilliant display of skill out wide before setting up Watkins, who confidently finished from close range. However, Rashford was ruled offside, and the goal was disallowed.

Rashford and his teammates are back in action Saturday when they host Chelsea at Villa Park.

Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images

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