(Football news) While Vincent Kompany’s team was defeated 2-0 by Liverpool on Boxing Day, Unai Emery’s team allowed a two-goal lead to slip in a thrilling 3-2 loss at Manchester United in midweek.

Having watched his Lions team collapse at the Theatre of Dreams, where John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker took advantage of careless Red Devils defense to give Villa a 2-0 halftime lead, Unai Emery appeared particularly furious in his post-match interview at Old Trafford.

After taking advantage of their hosts’ set-piece shortcomings in the first forty-five minutes, Villa were defeated by a late corner, as Rasmus Hojlund finally opened his Premier League account with a composed volley. However, a second-half brace from Alejandro Garnacho unexpectedly clawed Man United back into the match.

The ecstatic Scandinavian wheeled away in wild celebrations, leaving Villa to lament an agonizing collapse with their 10-game unbeaten streak in all tournaments coming to an end. Villa was also denied the opportunity to move up into second place in the table above Arsenal.

The hosts are looking for two slices of redemption at Villa Park, where Sheffield United ended their incredible 15-game Premier League winning run just before Christmas. If the Gunners defeat West Ham United on Thursday night, Emery’s team may now find themselves four points behind the Spaniard’s former employers.

If the Lions hope to improve their chances of winning the championship, they must break through an even more embarrassing run of results. Since a 3-0 thumping of Fulham twenty years ago, they have lost five of their nine home games, drawn four, and lost nine.

Aston Villa has been winning games at home this season, but Burnley’s problems at Turf Moor are still very much there, as shown by their two-goal loss to Liverpool on December 26 thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

Also read: West ham defeat Arsenal 2-0 in EPL