The Aston Villa bandwagon keeps on rolling.
Unai Emery’s side are the form team in the Premier League right now and they made it 10 straight wins in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Manchester United that narrowed the to gap to table-topping Arsenal to three points. They are a point behind second-placed Manchester City.
It was a bitter blow for United, who lost their influential captain Bruno Fernandes to injury, as a chance to cut the gap to the Champions League places was spurned.
We analyse the main talking points.
How far could Villa go?
Villa’s transformation in form is quite stunning.
From going without a league goal and win in the first four matches after a nightmare of a summer transfer window, to being three points off the top of the table at Christmas.
Given their rivals were all able to strengthen in the summer while Villa had to suffer and contend with rigid financial sanctions, that they are competing for a European place, let alone being firmly in the Champions League race, is mightily impressive.
Success under Emery has been built on consistency and belief in his tactical structure, but this season, there are some essential reasons.
They have excellent ball-strikers who can score often from very little, they win the critical passages in most matches and, perhaps most importantly, have a near-impregnable home record.
No team in Europe have won more home games since Emery’s arrival in October 2022 and they have only lost once at Villa Park in 2025. Any team that are going to be Champions League contenders, maybe even title challengers, require a fortress, and Villa have that.
Matty Cash said last week that the team can only start to think they are possible title contenders “after Christmas dinner” — well, there are now no other games before then.
Jacob Tanswell
How did United cope without Fernandes?
Fernandes pulling up towards the end of the first half was the first evidence we have that the Portugal international’s hamstrings are not actually made of titanium.
The United captain has missed just three games — one through illness, two others with a knee injury — in nearly six years at Old Trafford. That durability is why a study this week revealed that Fernandes had played 16,880 minutes for club and country over the past three years — more than any other outfield player in world football.
But Fernandes’ interview with a Portuguese television channel last Monday on his uncertain future raised the question of how United might cope without him one day soon. And if this injury is at all serious, that will suddenly be a particularly pressing question.
Bruno Fernandes could be facing a spell on the sidelines (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim’s immediate answer was to play Lisandro Martinez as a holding midfielder, despite only saying last month that it is “not the right position” for the Argentina centre-back.
Martinez adapted well to the role, showing composure in unfamiliar surroundings without looking physically outmatched. It should only be a temporary move too, given Casmeiro’s impending return.
But Fernandes is not a true holding midfield player in any case. If he is out for an extended period, it is his creativity that United will miss most, and just at the most hectic point of the schedule. Amorim does not have a like-for-like replacement.
Mark Critchley
How did Rogers light up Villa Park again?
When Rogers was enduring a tough patch earlier in the season, culminating in ironic cheers when he made a successful pass against Bologna in the Europa League, he confided in those close to him that his end product was well below his own standards.
Interestingly, he also spoke of shooting more in the final third, and in turn having more conviction in his decision-making. The subsequent upturn in his form could not be more contrasting. His first-half strike against United was his fifth league goal from outside the box in 10 matches.
Here, Rogers was largely on the periphery until his first goal. He was particularly important for Emery, given that Amorim set up with his back three all in one-vs-one duels, with the England international against Leny Yoro.
When he finally managed to isolate Yoro, Rogers was able to cut onto his stronger foot, with the Manchester United defender guilty of not showing him down the line and onto his left while not getting tight enough initially following a loose touch.
After that, Yoro was in trouble. Rogers is one of the most direct, best solo players in the league and, with Yoro retreating, he was able to cut inside and unleash.
Goalkeeper Senne Lammens stood rooted as Rogers’ strike nestled in the far corner and gave Villa a short-lived lead. It was another outstanding finish, adding to their already impressive catalogue of goals this season.
Incredibly, Rogers was not finished there. Despite Villa doing little before or after his first goal, he turned momentum in the hosts’ favour once more. This time, he was the first to react to a defensive clearance and, once more, whipped his effort into the far corner.
It was a demonstration of remarkable technique and ability, and a player enjoying the form of his life.
Jacob Tanswell
Should Martinez have stayed on?
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had to follow the concussion protocols after being accidentally struck on the head in the first half.
Martinez came off his line to close down Benjamin Sesko. A heavy touch from the striker saw him round the Argentina No 1 to no avail, while Martinez received a thump to the head from the legs of a retreating Cash.
Emiliano Martinez receives treatment (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
This forced a lengthy stoppage, with Martinez undergoing concussion tests from two Villa physios. FA guidelines state that, when recognising concussion, a series of tests should occur that could detect possible symptoms. Villa’s medical team deemed Martinez to be clear-headed and steady on his feet, answering all questions about the game and his immediate surroundings.
Martinez was keen to carry on and was in lengthy conversation with the club’s medical team. He did not show any obvious ill effects, making a couple of further interventions in the first half, including claims for crosses, while he was solid in his distribution.
Jacob Tanswell
How did Ugarte perform?
United’s preparations were disrupted by Kobbie Mainoo suffering an unfortunate calf injury in training on Saturday, ending any chance of him replacing the suspended Casemiro. Amorim had little option but to start Manuel Ugarte instead.
With and without statistics are not as reliable in football as in other sports, but United’s record when Ugarte is on the pitch this season is staggeringly poor — a minus-nine goal difference, with 14 goals conceded in all, from just 391 minutes.
Although always an aggressive ball-winner, there are clear limitations to Ugarte’s game in possession. There was no finer example of that than midway through the first half, when the Uruguay international’s attempt at a cross-field pass went out for a goal kick.
Manuel Ugarte had a rare start for Manchester United (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
It is more of a problem closer to his own goal, though. Ugarte was lucky not to be responsible for Villa taking an early lead after easily having his pocket picked by Youri Tielemans after eight minutes, when trying to build up an attack from deep, and he was booked in the second half for a clumsy foul on Boubacar Kamara.
It was exactly the type of situation you would prefer Mainoo in, given how comfortable he is manipulating the ball in tight spaces. But with Mainoo potentially out for a few weeks, and now Fernandes likely sidelined too, Ugarte can expect more minutes.
Mark Critchley
How did United’s young subs do?
One potential upside of United’s resources being so stretched at a critical stage of the season could be that Amorim gives many supporters what they have been asking for and shows more faith in academy talent.
Jack Fletcher, son of former United and Scotland midfielder Darren, was introduced as a 73rd-minute substitute, replacing Sesko. And after watching four games from the bench, Shea Lacey also debuted shortly after.
Jack Fletcher comes on at Villa Park (Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images)
Fletcher and Lacey became the 255th and 256th players to graduate from United’s youth set-up and did not look out of place during their brief cameos. Bendito Mantato, another highly-rated talent, was named in the matchday squad.
These opportunities come not just amid the Mainoo brouhaha, and questions over Amorim’s level of trust in Carrington’s youth set-up, but a couple of days after the United manager suggested some of his younger players have a sense of “entitlement”.
Amorim has always insisted he will give chances to players who deserve them and when the time is right. Now is that time. It was always likely to be, even without the mounting injuries, given United’s Africa Cup of Nations absentees. It will be fascinating to see how Fletcher, Lacey and others fare.
Mark Critchley
What did Emery say?
Villa’s manager said he was not happy with his match-winner Rogers’ first-half display despite his fine individual goal, but praised his efforts after the break.
“He was not performing very well in the first half,” he told Sky Sports. “He scored a great goal, but he was not performing very well in the first half. But in the second half, he did much, much better. I am ambitious myself, and I share my ambitions and demands with my players. We weren’t focusing, we were playing back, playing back.
“But overall, I’m very happy and our supporters should be very proud of what we are doing together. Sometimes we can dominate, sometimes we have to defend and show resilience and take our time. Overall, we must be ambitious but also realistic. We are building the team in different ways but the mentality is very important.”
What did Amorim say?
United’s head coach confirmed that Fernandes had suffered a soft-tissue injury which will keep him out for “a while” but was otherwise heartened by the quality of his side’s performance at Villa Park.
“I saw from the beginning of the season a team that is going forward, but which sometimes relaxes a little bit and sometimes is not there in the right moment to fight,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “Today was completely the opposite. We were the better team against a team that is strong at home and in a very good run.
“We were really unlucky today.”
What next for Villa?
Saturday, December 27: Chelsea (Away), Premier League, 5.30pm UK, 12.30pm ET
What next for United?
Friday, December 26: Newcastle (Home), Premier League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
