Rogers scores twice for Villa to secure win over Man Utd

Rogers Scores Twice as In-Form Villa Sink Man Utd 2-1

Morgan Rogers continued his red-hot form, scoring twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester United 2-1 at Villa Park to extend their winning streak to 10 games in all competitions — their longest top-flight run since 1914.

Despite not being at their fluent best, Unai Emery’s side edged closer to Premier League leaders Arsenal and further solidified their Champions League aspirations.

Match Summary

43’ — Rogers curls in the opener with a stunning strike.
57’ — Matheus Cunha equalizes after a defensive error by Matty Cash.
67’ — Rogers cuts inside Leny Yoro and scores another sublime curler.

The victory was only Villa’s second win in their past 27 home league matches against United, and it sparked wild celebrations from Emery, who was seen throwing his coat in the air in delight.

Man Utd Suffer Blow as Fernandes Injured

It was a painful day for Ruben Amorim, with Bruno Fernandes limping off before halftime with what appeared to be a hamstring injury — adding to a long list of absentees.

Already missing six senior players, United suffered further setbacks:

Kobbie Mainoo withdrew pre-match with a calf issue.
Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui remain on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

To make matters worse, teenagers Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey were forced into their senior debuts late in the game.

Fernandes Injury Analysis

Fernandes’ importance cannot be overstated. Before this game:

He had either scored or assisted in nearly every match where United found the net.
He’s missed just two matches due to injury since joining in 2020.

Now facing the prospect of a 3-week absence, he could miss at least five key fixtures.

Amorim had ruled out panic buys in January, but this setback may force a rethink.

Rogers Powers Villa’s Unexpected Title Push

Morgan Rogers, with 6 league goals in 6 games, has emerged as Villa’s top scorer and leading man in a campaign few saw coming.

Signed from Middlesbrough for £16m in 2024, the 23-year-old has:

Scored in wins over Tottenham, Leeds, West Ham, and now United.
Become a key England player and a vital part of Emery’s system.

Despite Emery’s insistence that they’re not in the title race, Villa are just 3 points off top.

However, financial realities loom:

Villa may need to sell a key player next summer — and Rogers tops that list.

What’s Next?

Aston Villa: Travel to Chelsea on Saturday, 27 December (17:30 GMT).
Manchester United: Host Newcastle on Boxing Day (20:00 GMT), the only Premier League game that day.