Aston Villa continued their remarkable Premier League title charge with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, inspired by a brilliant brace from in-form winger Morgan Rogers.
Unai Emery’s side took the lead late in the first half at Villa Park when Rogers produced a stunning strike to cap a dominant spell.
Manchester United responded quickly through Matheus Cunha, who equalised moments later to halt the home momentum briefly.
However, Rogers was decisive again after the break, scoring his second goal of the match and his sixth in as many league appearances to secure all three points. The win marked Villa’s 10th consecutive victory in all competitions, underlining their growing status as genuine title contenders.
The result keeps third-placed Aston Villa just three points behind league leaders Arsenal and one point adrift of second-placed Manchester City, as they chase a first English top-flight title since 1981.
Villa’s current run is their best sequence of wins in all competitions since 1914, when they recorded 11 straight victories. They have also won seven consecutive league matches for the first time since the 1989–90 season, when they finished second under Graham Taylor.
Their surge into the title race is all the more striking given their difficult start to the campaign, which saw them collect just two points and score only one goal from their opening five matches — their worst league start in 28 years.
Emery has transformed Villa Park into one of the league’s toughest venues. The club have suffered just one Premier League home defeat in 2025, fewer than any other side. Arsenal have already been beaten there this season, and United — who had lost only once in their previous 26 visits — were also unable to stop Villa’s momentum.
For Manchester United, the defeat was their second in 11 league matches and leaves them winless in their last two outings following Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. They remain seventh in the table.
United’s problems were compounded by an apparent hamstring injury to captain Bruno Fernandes, who was forced off at half-time. The setback adds to Ruben Amorim’s growing injury and availability concerns.
The Portuguese coach was already without Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Kobbie Mainoo through injury, Casemiro due to suspension, and Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Fernandes’ injury is particularly concerning after the midfielder recently revealed that the club had been open to selling him when Saudi side Al-Hilal made an approach during the summer.
