The win marks Villa’s 10th consecutive victory in all competitions—their best run since 1914—and leaves Unai Emery’s side just three points behind league leaders Arsenal and one point adrift of Manchester City.
Rogers Sparkles in Final Flourish
The match, billed as a pre-Christmas blockbuster, lived up to the hype in a frantic first half. While Manchester United controlled large portions of the early play, it was Villa who broke the deadlock in the 45th minute.
England international Morgan Rogers picked up a diagonal pass from John McGinn, drifted inside off the left flank, and unleashed a trademark curling strike into the far top corner, leaving United goalkeeper Senne Lammens with no chance.
However, the lead lasted less than three minutes. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Matty Cash was caught in possession by the energetic Patrick Dorgu. The loose ball fell to Matheus Cunha, who clinicaly finished from an acute angle to send the teams into the break level.
United Rocked by Fernandes Injury
The complexion of the game shifted at the interval when Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes failed to emerge for the second half, having pulled up with a hamstring injury late in the first period. Rúben Amorim was forced to bring on Lisandro Martínez into an unfamiliar midfield role to compensate.
Villa seized the momentum, and in the 57th minute, Rogers struck again. In a goal nearly identical to his first, the 23-year-old took advantage of hesitant defending from Leny Yoro to lash home his and Villa's second of the afternoon. In doing so, Rogers became the first Villa player since Dion Dublin in 1998 to score a brace in back-to-back Premier League games.
Title Race Intensifies
Despite late pressure from United, including a gilt-edged headed chance missed by Cunha and a dipping Mason Mount free-kick, Villa held firm to secure their seventh straight league win.
Unai Emery's Reaction:
"Our supporters should be proud of everything we are doing together. We are in a strong position, but the focus must remain on the next step. To win 10 in a row is historic for this club."
The defeat leaves Manchester United in seventh place heading into the Boxing Day fixtures, while Villa’s "fortress" status remains intact; they have suffered only one home league defeat in the entire 2025 calendar year.