Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, right, looks dejected after the Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester United, in Birmingham, England, Sunday Dec. 21, 2025. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Morgan Rogers struck two superb goals for Aston Villa as they beat Manchester United 2-1 at home on Sunday to record their seventh straight Premier League victory and 10th in a row in all competitions.
With seven goals and three assists in the league in 17 appearances this season, Rogers has helped Villa up to third in the table on 36 points and into the title race, hot on the heels of leaders Arsenal (39 points) and Manchester City (37).
The home side did not look like a team on a winning run for much of the first half, but that changed when John McGinn picked out Rogers in the 45th minute.
Brimming with confidence, the 23-year-old brought the ball down and kept it in play before cutting into the box and curling a superb shot past keeper Senne Lammens and into the top corner.
United managed to level before the break when Matty Cash was robbed to the right of the Villa penalty area and Matheus Cunha blasted the loose ball past Emiliano Martinez, but their joy was short-lived as captain Bruno Fernandes had to be substituted at halftime due to injury.
Fernandes was seen walking uncomfortably along the sideline as he made his way to the bench for the second half.
United is already without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are playing in the Africa Cup of Nations. Coach Ruben Amorim’s options were further depleted on Sunday, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ruled out with a calf injury picked up in training.
Mainoo would have been the obvious replacement for Fernandes.
Even before Fernandes’ injury, Amorim said Mainoo’s absence was bad timing.
“He is going to be fine in a few weeks, I think, I don’t know,” Amorim said. “Let’s focus on the players that we have and are ready to play.”
Fernandes was replaced by Lisandro Martinez, who normally plays as a defender, and the Argentine made the most of his cameo in a more advanced position to fire off an early shot as United sought to get back in the game.
The fightback was short-lived, however, as Rogers netted again in the 57th minute with another curled effort past Lammens.
United substitute Shea Lacey fired a late effort into the midriff of the Villa keeper and Mason Mount sent a free kick over the bar, but Villa held on to leave the visitors seventh in the table.