MANCHESTER, England -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will tell you that Manchester United haven't really hit top form this season, and that one of the reasons is Anthony Martial. It bodes well, then, that on the opening day of a year that could yield a first title challenge of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, it was the Frenchman who got the first goal as United beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer needed another Bruno Fernandes penalty, three good saves from David De Gea, an impressive performance from Paul Pogba and a heroic block from Eric Bailly in the fifth minute of stoppage time to get over the line, but his team is now level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table after 16 games.