Morgan Rogers was sensational as his double inspired high-flying Aston Villa to a 2-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
2025/2026 Premier League
2-1
Match Report
Rogers curled in a sublime opener before restoring Villa's lead with another impressive finish as Unai Emery's team closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal back to three points.
The England international had hit the woodwork early on, albeit United were arguably the better team in the first half at Villa Park, with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko going close before Rogers bent a stunning finish home in the 45th minute.
United got the goal their performance merited, though, three minutes later. Matty Cash was robbed by Patrick Dorgu, and Cunha finished calmly beyond Martinez.
The loss of Bruno Fernandes to an apparent hamstring injury did not help United's chances, though, and Rogers did the damage again 12 minutes into the second half, becoming the first Villa player since Dion Dublin in 1998 to net twice in back-to-back Premier League matches.
Cunha missed a glorious chance to equalise when he headed wide from Dorgu's centre soon after, and despite applying late pressure, United – who were shorn of not only Fernandes, but also key attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo – were unable to carve out another clear opening.
2 - Morgan Rogers is the first Aston Villa player to score 2+ goals in back-to-back Premier League appearances since Dion Dublin in November 1998 (3 in a row). Cold. pic.twitter.com/nFhLeaLwao
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 21, 2025
Data Debrief: Villa make it a perfect 10
Villa have now won 10 games in a row in all competitions for the first time since 1914. In the Premier League, meanwhile, only in 2023-24 (39) will they have had more points on Christmas Day than they will this season (36).
And Rogers is the star on Villa fans' trees this festive season. He has now scored 21 goals across all competitions since the start of last term – aged 23 years and 148 days, he is the youngest to net 20+ for a Premier League team in this period.
Rogers had seven of Villa's 12 shots, six more than any of his team-mates. Cunha, meanwhile, may well feel hard done by to be on the losing team. He had six attempts and created two chances, though he did squander that gilt-edged chance to level for a second time when he headed wide from six yards out.
Cunha has netted in each of his last three Premier League appearances against Villa, which marks his joint-longest scoring streak against an opponent in the competition (also three v Leicester City, between April 2023 and April 2025).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Cunha unleashes a shot from the edge of the box, which goes just wide!
4' Heaven makes a crucial block to stop Villa's attempt
7' McGinn takes a low shot but Lammens is alert and denies with a nice save
8' Rogers has to stretch for the ball in the box and sends it just wide
21' Sesko drills a low shot towards the net but Emi denies him with a save
23' Another chance for Sesko, but the ball is cleared before he catches
29' Ugarte's long pass is too wide and turns out to be a goal kick for Villa
33' Rogers cuts inside and takes a low shot but it is saved by Lammens
34' Cunha shoots from the edge of the penalty area but Emi deals with the threat
45' GOAL! Rogers curls his effort into the top right corner! Aston Villa 1-0 Man Utd
46' Lisandro Martinez comes on the pitch for Bruno Fernandes
48' GOAL! Cunha equalizes quickly following Cash's mistake! Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
55' Lisandro Martinez unleashes a long-range shot but it goes inches wide
57' GOAL! Watkins sets up Rogers to strike a cruling shot! Aston Villa 2-1 Man Utd
66' Cunha heads the ball towards the net but his effort is inches wide
68' Ugarte is booked yellow as he trips his opponent down with a slide tackle
72' Dalot takes his opponent down and receives a yellow card
81' Man Utd appeal for a penalty for handball but play continues
Line-ups
Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Lindelof, McGinn, Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Kamara, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana, Maatsen
Subs: Marco Bizot, Digne, Buendia, Malen, Evann Guessand, Lamare Bogarde, Andrés García, Leon Routh, George Hemmings
Man Utd XI: Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Mount, Dalot, Ugarte, Matheus Cunha, Senne Lammens, Benjamin Sesko, Yoro, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven
Subs: Heaton, Altay Bayındır, Lisandro Martinez, Malacia, Zirkzee, Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Bendito Mantato