Morgan Rogers scored twice as Aston Villa kept pace in the title race by beating Manchester United 2-1 at Villa Park on Sunday.
MORE — Ruben Amorim’s post-match reaction
Matheus Cunha scored Man United’s goal, and the club will be sweating on the status of Bruno Fernandes after their captain and star was withdrawn at halftime with an apparent leg injury.
Villa are three points back of leaders Arsenal and one back of second-place Man City, with all three title race runners collected wins this week.
WATCH — Aston Villa v Manchester United full match replay
Man United remain seventh with 26 points, three back of the top four.
Villa pass first of three big title tests in a row
Villa weren’t in their best form on Sunday but it didn’t matter because their star sure was ready to hit his highest notes. Morgan Rogers’ brace wasn’t a “paper over the cracks” situation but the game was very even and Villa were aided by the late first half injury to Bruno Fernandes. Now the Villans have to make sure they can turn their levels back to recent standards for two very difficult fixtures: away to Chelsea and Arsenal in a span of four days. If the Villans can beat Chelsea on Saturday they’ll be guaranteed the chance to join or pass Arsenal’s points total at the Emirates. And with Arsenal meeting Brighton prior to that match while second-place Man City face trips to Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, the top three could well be shaken right up to close out 2025. Losing both of those games would almost certainly send Villa back into the top four race rather than front-and-center in the title fight, and Chelsea and Liverpool would be poised to make Villa’s third place footing far less stable.
What’s next?
Man United host Newcastle at 3pm ET on Friday for the only Boxing Day game of the Premier League season. Then Wolves visit four days later.
Villa have two challenging away days, going to Chelsea at 12:30pm Saturday and Arsenal three days later.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United final score: 2-1
Morgan Rogers 45', 57'; Matheus Cunha 45+3'
Aston Villa vs Manchester United live updates
Four minutes stoppage time
And probably a bit more as Youri Tielemans is prone on the pitch.
More subs in the 84th
Emi Buendia and Evann Guessand enter for Villa, while Shea Lacey is the second-straight senior debutant for United today, replacing Yoro.
The two youngsters making debuts on a week that a pair of Man United teens made waves for a continuing issue with Amorim sure seems more than coincidental.
Villa subs
Donyell Malen and Lucas Digne enter the game for Ollie Watkins and Ian Maatsen.
Man United subs
Joshua Zirkzee enters for Ugarte and Jack Fletcher makes his senior debut in place of Sesko.
Fletcher is the son of longtime Man United man Darren Fletcher.
Could’ve been 2-2!
Dorgu think he’s sent in a second assist with a cross from the left but Cunha’s glancing header bounds wide of the far post.
He was just a bit unsighted at the end and that just put him off.
Morgan Rogers goal — Aston Villa 2-1 Man United
It’s a good goal with great power, but might Senne Lammens have done better?
Rogers gets on the right side of Leny Yoro, who is matching him stride-for-stride but cannot block the Villa star’s right foot from firing a 15-yard shot toward goal.
Lammens dives with his offhand but can’t get a piece of the ball as it ripples the back of the net.
One sub at the break
Lisandro Martinez continues his reacclimation to the team after his long injury layoff.
He’ll replace Bruno Fernandes, who was injured late in the first half.
Here’s more on what’s happened to Fernandes as we track any updates on the Man Utd superstar.
Halftime — Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
A marvelous half of entertainment, and you’d have to say Man United have been a head above their hosts.
Villa are out-attempting United but a lot of the danger came very early and Amorim’s plan has settled into shape.
Anything’s possible in the second half.
Matheus Cunha goal — Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
Matty Cash doesn’t hold up to Patrick Dorgu’s press, and the Dane takes the ball off him deep in the Villa third.
Dorgu quickly sends Cunha toward goal and the ex-Wolves man slides a beauty into the far side netting.
Morgan Rogers goal — Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester United
This guy is on a Best XI level right now.
John McGinn gets the ball to Rogers on the left, and he makes quick work of Leny Yoro to curl an eye-catching ball inside the far corner.
Man Utd gain foothold, Villa suffer injuries
Man United have been a lot better, as Villa’s early danger did not turn into dominance.
Cunha slips Sesko into the box, a blazing run leaning the forward into a heavy touch.
Villa were flustered by the move and it led to Matty Cash’s knee going into the Emiliano Martinez’s head, both body parts in question requiring treatment in order to play onward.
It’s surprising that Martinez is being allowed to do, but trust the doctors.
Fun start for neutrals
Man Utd had one good half-chance, as Matheus Cunha missed the goal with a well-hit shot.
Villa have had two breaks, the second much more dangerous and blocked by Senne Lammens and then Ayden Heaven.
The second led to a corner and Morgan Rogers nearly swept Ian Maatsen’s lethal pass inside the near post with his trailing leg.
0-0, 9'.
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins
Manchester United lineup
Lammens, Shaw, Heaven, Yoro, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu, Cunha, Mount, Sesko
Aston Villa vs Manchester United preview
The Red Devils are unbeaten in four but a Monday draw stoppped them from climbing into a tie for fourth. They remain sixth on 26 points, two points behind fourth-place Chelsea and seven behind Villa.
Unai Emery’s Villans have 33 points, one fewer than Man City and three back of Arsenal with both teams playing Saturday.
Villa have been red-hot, winners of six-straight Premier League games and 10 of 11. They’ve lost just twice in all competitions since September and have been doing it in fun fashion (for neutrals) more often than not. Their last three Premier League matches have featured seven, three, and five goals without a single zero on either side of the scoreboard.
United’s success seen them take eight of 12 points with wins away to Palace and Wolves and home draws with West Ham and Bournemouth. It’s not quite a murderers’ row, and the absences of Casemiro through suspension, Matthijs De Ligt with an ongoing injury, and Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Bryan Mbeumo with AFCON duty loom large here.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Jadon Sancho (loan - unable to face parent club), Tyrone Mings (hamstring), Ross Barkley (unspecified) | QUESTIONABLE: Emiliano Martinez (lower back), Pau Torres (lower leg)
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Matthijs de Ligt (unspecified - MORE), Casemiro (suspension), Noussair Mazraoui (international duty - AFCON), Bryan Mbeumo (international duty - AFCON), Amad Diallo (international duty - AFCON), Harry Maguire (thigh)
Aston Villa vs Manchester United prediction
There is a lot going against the visitors here beyond an in-form, top-end opponent. Casemiro’s absence is big and the AFCON ones hurt, too, but goodness, gracious the Matthijs De Ligt injury has led to some wide-open football. The Red Devils haven’t kept a clean sheet since an October 4 win over Sunderland. Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday
Venue: Villa Park — Aston
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
