Aston Villa tightened their grip on a Premier League title challenge with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday, December 21, 2025. The hero of the hour was Morgan Rogers, whose brilliant double secured a seventh consecutive league win and a tenth victory in all competitions for the high-flying Villans.
Rogers Shines in Villa's Title Charge
The match was a tale of two halves, with Villa initially struggling to impose themselves. However, the momentum shifted dramatically just before the interval. In the 45th minute, John McGinn found Rogers, who displayed immense composure. The 23-year-old controlled the ball, kept it in play, cut inside, and unleashed a stunning curled effort that flew past Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens into the top corner.
This season, Rogers has been a revelation. With seven goals and three assists in just 17 league appearances, his contributions have been pivotal. This win propelled Aston Villa to third place in the table with 36 points, placing them squarely in the championship conversation. They are now hot on the heels of leaders Arsenal (39 points) and second-placed Manchester City (37 points).
United's Brief Resurgence and Injury Blow
Manchester United managed to claw back an equaliser before halftime. Matty Cash was dispossessed near the Villa penalty area, and Matheus Cunha pounced on the loose ball, firing it past Emiliano Martinez. The visitors' joy, however, was short-lived and marred by a significant setback.
United captain Bruno Fernandes had to be substituted at halftime due to an injury. He was seen walking uncomfortably to the bench, compounding a growing crisis for coach Ruben Amorim. The team is already missing Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui to the Africa Cup of Nations. To make matters worse, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was ruled out with a calf injury picked up in training, who would have been the natural replacement for Fernandes.
"He is going to be fine in a few weeks, I think, I don't know," Amorim said about Mainoo. "Let's focus on the players that we have and are ready to play." Fernandes was replaced by defender Lisandro Martinez, who played in a more advanced role.
Villa Seal the Deal and Climb the Table
Any hopes of a United fightback were extinguished in the 57th minute by the irrepressible Rogers. He found space once again and repeated his first-half trick, curling another exquisite shot past Lammens to restore Villa's lead.
United pushed late on, with substitute Shea Lacey forcing a save and Mason Mount sending a free-kick over the bar, but Villa held firm. The result leaves Manchester United in seventh place in the standings, while Aston Villa's dream season continues to gather pace with a statement win that confirms their status as genuine title contenders.
