Aston Villa vs Manchester United LIVE
Aston Villa and Man United served up a treat in the penultimate Premier League fixture before Christmas. Morgan Rogers was the star of the show, scoring two rather identical goals in either half to bring up a tenth straight win across all competitions for Villa. A seventh straight league wins also means Villa have reduced the gap to leaders Arsenal to three points.
Man Utd, who lost captain Bruno Fernandes to injury at half-time, will feel they should have left Villa Park with at least a point but Matheus Cunha missed a great chance to score his second equaliser of the afternoon. The result means Ruben Amorim’s side remain seventh in the table having failed to move level on points with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Villa continue to fly high under Unai Emery and it’s becoming difficult to ignore them as surprise contenders for this season’s Premier League title race given they are one of the in-form sides across Europe. Follow the game back below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United latest
- GOAL! Rogers restores Villa's lead
- GOAL! Cunha with instant response for Man Utd
- GOAL! Rogers breaks deadlock with superb strike
FULL-TIME!
18:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
That roar from the Villa Park faithful. Ten straight wins across all competitions for Aston Villa as they move three points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Morgan Rogers, the difference between the two teams.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+2 min: Bogarde booked for a trip on Dorgu and Man Utd have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
Mount takes but ripples the top of the net. He had to keep his effort down.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90 min: A glimpse of what Lacey is about as he cuts inside onto his right foot but shoots straight at Martinez.
Four minutes of added time is signalled, can Man United find a equaliser?
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne87 min: Bogarde replaces Kamara in Villa’s last change of the match.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne84 min: That could have been the game right there as the ball falls kindly for Rogers but his shot is charged down. He appeals for a handball but those claims are waved away.
At the other end, Martinez gets down low to keep out an effort from his namesake.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne83 min: Changes for both sides.
Buendia and Guessand replace Onana and McGinn for Aston Villa as Shea Lacey takes the place of Leny Yoro for his Manchester United senior debut.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne81 min: Massive scramble in the Villa penalty box and penalty calls follow as Man Utd players claim there was a handball. Nothing given after a VAR check.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: Into the final ten minutes at Villa Park, United pushing for an equaliser to deny the home side a tenth straight win across all competitions.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne72 min: Double Man Utd change sees Ugarte and Sesko make way for Zirkzee and Fletcher.
Yes, that is the son of former United midfielder, Darren.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne71 min: Man Utd remain a threat going forward and that means Villa will need to score another to make sure of the three points and a tenth straight win.
Dalot goes into the book for a high boot on Maatsen.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne68 min: Ugarte booked for a foul on Kamara.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
18:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne67 min: WHAT A MISS!
Dorgu puts the ball on a plate for Cunha but the Brazilian, from right in front of goal, misses the target.
Huge let off for Villa.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
17:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne66 min: Cunha tries to emulate Rogers but shoots wide from range. Heaven is then caught in possession which sets Watkins free but the offside flag is raised.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
17:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne65 min: You have to feel some sympathy for United today. Both of Villa’s goals have come against the run of play, though Yoro’s defending on each goal has been a major concern.
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United
17:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne59 min: CHANCES!
Nearly an immediate response from Man United again as Martinez saves from Dalot before Cash makes a superb block to deny Dorgu converting the rebound.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United | Morgan Rogers ‘57
17:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne57 min: ASTON VILLA RETAKE THE LEAD!
Morgan Rogers is unstoppable right now as he cuts inside and fires past Lammens.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne55 min: Martinez wins the ball off Tielemans, strides forward and lets fly but his effort is always moving away from goal. Really good start to the second half by the visitors, even after losing Fernandes.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne53 min: Shaw gets another bite at the cherry after his corner was cleared, second delivery falls kindly for Mount who can’t hit the target with an effort that went through a couple of bodies.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne51 min: Cash, trying to make amends for his mistake in the first half, sees an effort blocked before Man United manage to scramble the ball clear after Maatsen and Watkins had sightings in the box.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:42 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne49 min: CLOSE!
Mount drives forward and sends in a teasing cross intended for Sesko but the United striker can’t get a toe on the ball to divert it goalwards.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne46 min: Martinez does replace Fernandes as the Man United captain’s hamstring injury was as serious as first feared.
KICK-OFF!
17:37 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway at Villa Park.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:36 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLisandro Martinez is set to come on for Man United, replacing Bruno Fernandes.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:33 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMatty Cash has scored in recent home games against Man City and Arsenal, but he was at fault for Matheus Cunha’s equaliser.
Matheus Cunha with a lovely finish to equalise for Manchester United! 😍 pic.twitter.com/ru9IoZfwaZ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 21, 2025
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
17:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt took a while, but what a strike from Morgan Rogers to break the deadlock.
"That is an absolute BEAUT!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 21, 2025
Morgan Rogers, wow. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/OqelgKESAE
HALF-TIME
17:22 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAston Villa 1-1 Manchester United
All square at the break as Matheus Cunha cancels out a stunning strike from Morgan Rogers.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United | Matheus Cunha ‘45+3
17:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45+3 min: MAN UTD LEVEL!
That did not take long, it is an unstant response from the visitors as Matheus Cunha profits from Matty Cash's mistake to equalise for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester United
17:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45+1 min: Rogers does so well there, from controlling McGinn’s fizzing pass to cutting inside Yoro and unleashing an unstoppable effort past Lammens.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester United | Morgan Rogers ‘45
17:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: ASTON VILLA LEAD!
WOW! Against the run of play, Morgan Rogers breaks the deadlock with a stunning strike.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
17:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne42 min: Well, Fernandes is fine and he’s almost broken the deadlock with a shot deflected behind for a corner.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
17:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne40 min: OUCH! Looks like Bruno Fernandes has pulled his hamstring, or at least tweaked it. He is walking rather gingerly which suggests he may be fine.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
17:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne38 min: Tielemans with an ambitious effort from range. The Villa midfielder can hit them, but this was not his best and Lammens watches the ball fly wide of his post.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
17:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne35 min: Sloppy play by Villa in the middle of the park, Cunha doesn’t need a second invitation to shoot but his effort is clawed away by Martinez.
Here come United on the attack again but Maatsen makes a really important invervention as Dalot was poised to latch on to Dorgu’s cross.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
17:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne33 min: Important touch from Ugarte to cut out McGinn’s attempted pass for Watkins as Villa looked to exploits some gaps left by Man United.
Rogers sees space open up for him and he drives into it before letting a rather tame effort off which Lammens saves comfortably. Villa attacker just did not get hold of that one.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
17:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne30 min: Much has been made of the system Ruben Amorim was going to use this afternoon in the absence of the AFCON trio and Casemiro.
It looks like a usual back three, but a midfield three is the biggest change with Cunha and Sesko operating as a front two.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne27 min: Martinez is going to carry on for Villa. Not sure how wise that is, especially after being caught in the head by Cash, but we will say how the decision pans out.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne25 min: During that last attack, Martinez took a knee to the head from Cash and the goalkeeper has been treated and is going through some concussion protocols.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne23 min: Sesko is in behind the Villa defence once again but he overruns Cunha’s pass with a heavy first touch and then tries his best to prevent a goal kick.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:53 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne22 min: Fernandes picks out the run of Sesko with a superb pass but Martinez rushes off his line to close the angle and the Man Utd forward strikes his effort straight at the Villa goalkeeper.
Good save, but Sesko should be putting that away.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne20 min: A nice touch from Aston Villa ahead of kick-off this afternoon.
Kelly Osbourne's son heads out to Villa Park with John McGinn 💜 pic.twitter.com/RZ9qp8YN6d
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 21, 2025
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne18 min: The tempo has dropped a little, which was to be expected after such a fast start to the game. Villa seeing a lot of the ball but Man United are compact in their defensive shape.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne15 min: Cash steals the ball from Dorgu and is away but the referee penalises the Villa defender for a foul. That looked a little harsh on Cash as he got the ball first.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne13 min: Heaven has had a busy start to this game as he is forced to turn the ball behind for a corner after Lindelof had picked out Watkins’ with a long ball over the top.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne8 min: Ugarte is caught in possession by Tielemans and Onana drives Villa forward, squares to McGinn whose first time shot is saved by Lammens before Heaven turns the ball behind.
From the corner, Maatsen’s cross is met by Rogers in the middle but his flicked attempt drifts wide.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne4 min: Fantastic defending from Heaven as he gets back to stop Watkins from taking a shot at goal after the Villa striker was put through by Rogers.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne3 min: CHANCE!
The ball sets up perfectly for Cunha as he runs onto the ball and fizzes a shot just wide of the post. Think most inside Villa Park were expecting the net to bulge.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
16:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne2 min: Early chance for Man Utd from a set-piece but the delivery from Bruno Fernandes is surprisingly poor and Villa deal with it comfortably before the offside flag is raised to halt the attack.
KICK-OFF!
16:31 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are underway at Villa Park.
Can Manchester United stop Aston Villa recording a tenth straight win across all competitions?
HERE WE GO!
16:26 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe teams are out at Villa Park.
The penultimate Premier League fixture before Christmas gets underway shortly!
Familiar face
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneVictor Lindelof starts against his former club this afternoon.
The central defender only departed Manchester United a few months ago but is tasked with helping Aston Villa overcome the Red Devils at Villa Park.
As it stands
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBoth sides have a huge incentive to win this afternoon.
Aston Villa are seeking cut the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points while Manchester United can draw level with Chelsea and leapfrog bitter rivals Liverpool in the table.
It is all to play for at Villa Park!
Kick-off approaching
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne15 minutes to go until kick-off at Villa Park.
Why Kobbie Mainoo is not in Manchester United squad
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneKobbie Mainoo was surprisingly absent from the Manchester United squad at Aston Villa on Sunday.
With Casemiro suspended, Mainoo had been tipped to come into the side after Ruben Amorim said the midfielder “played really well” off the bench against Bournemouth.
But Mainoo was not in the squad and United confirmed he “picked up a small injury” in training on Saturday.
Man Utd dressing room
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBehind the scenes at Villa Park as the Manchester United dressing room is prepared ahead of kick-off.
Team news reminder
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is how both teams will line-up today.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Substitutes: Bizot, Digne, García, Malen, Routh, Bogarde, Guessand, Hemmings, Buendía.
Manchester United XI: Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha, Mount; Sesko.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Heaton, Fredricson, Malacia, Martinez, J. Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato, Zirkzee.
Key men
15:53 , Giuseppe MuroMorgan Rogers and Bruno Fernandes are likely to be key men at Villa Park this afternoon.
Rogers has been involved in eight goals in his last 11 Premier League games for Aston Villa (5 goals, 3 assists).
Fernandes has both scored and assisted a goal in his last two Premier League appearances. The only Man Utd player to do so in three in a row is Ryan Giggs in April 2003.
Emery: We need to be humble to believe we can win title
15:45 , Giuseppe MuroAston Villa will be looking to keep within touching distance of Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race this afternoon.
But Unai Emery has been reluctant to include his side in the title race.
“Of course, I would like to be a favourite to win the Premier League, but we are not favourites," Emery admitted.
"We are performing very well, we are competing very well and we are now third. This is the reality.
"But to feel favourites, to really think we can win the Premier League, our objective is to try to be consistent and to try to be very, very demanding. And through it, being humble."
Amorim issues Man Utd challenge
15:35 , Giuseppe MuroRuben Amorim says Manchester United must start putting "everything on the line" defensively if they are to push up the table.
The Red Devils enter the weekend sixth in the Premier League having lost just one of their last 10 matches, yet there have been a number of missed opportunties during that period.
Monday's chaotic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth highlighted the issues United need to iron out as while only Manchester City have scored more, there is no other team in the top half who have conceded as many.
Amorim said: "We watched the game again against Bournemouth. We can avoid those goals, it was a lot of transition.
"We have to put everything on the line when we are defending and sometimes we are not doing that.
"We need to work on some details to suffer less goals because, in the end, it's going to make the difference."
Unai Emery makes one change to the Aston Villa team that beat West Ham last weekend.
Emiliano Martinez returns in goal after missing the last two games with a back injury, in a huge boost for Villa.
So Kobbie Mainoo is not in the Manchester United squad.
Ruben Amorim said Mainoo “played really well” off the bench against Bournemouth and he had been tipped to come into the side with Casemiro suspended.
But United say Mainoo “picked up a small injury” in training on Saturday.
Benjamin Sesko starts up front and Amorim has stuck with his 3-4-3 system, having said this week he had been weighing up whether to switch to a back four.
Team news: No Mainoo for Manchester United
15:23 , Giuseppe MuroAston Villa XI : Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Digne, Garcia, Routh, Bogarde, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Guessand.
Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw, Dorgu, Ugarte, Fernandes, Cunha, Mount, Sesko
Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Fredricson, Malacia, Mantato, Martinez, Fletcher, Lacey, Zirkzee
Team news is coming up from Villa Park shortly...
Aston Villa vs Manchester United stats
15:03 , Giuseppe Muro- Aston Villa have won their last six Premier League games, and their last nine in all competitions. As a top-flight side, they last won seven straight league games between December 1989 and February 1990, while they last won 10+ in all competitions between January and March 1914 (11)
- Only Manchester City (46) have won more home Premier League points in 2025 than Aston Villa (40), while Villa have lost the fewest home games of any ever present side (1)
- Manchester United have won their last two away Premier League matches, last winning three in a row in February 2024
- Manchester United have dropped 10 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, just one fewer than they did in the whole of 2024-25. Coming into this weekend’s games, only Brentford (13) and Newcastle (11) have dropped more
Head to head history and results
14:55 , Giuseppe MuroAston Villa wins: 49
Man Utd wins: 104
Draws: 42
Amorim hopeful over Man Utd title challenge
14:47 , Giuseppe MuroRuben Amorim believes Manchester United will be fighting for the Premier League title far sooner than the 10 or 11 years that Sir Alex Ferguson fears it could take.
United have failed to add to their 20 English league titles since Ferguson bowed out as a champion in 2013.
Ferguson recently said that he felt United are "now in the same situation" as Liverpool were when they went 30 years without winning the title.
The club great said it "could be 10 years, 11 years" until the Premier League trophy returns to Old Trafford, but Amorim is confident it will not take that long.
"He understands football more than me, especially English football," the current United boss said. "I think we are not (going to) take that long to win a league.
"I don't know which manager is going to be here, but I truly believe that we can fight for the title in the next years.
"I think it's not going to take so many years, but you never know."
Aston Villa vs Manchester United match odds
14:39 , Giuseppe MuroAston Villa to win: 11/10
Man Utd to win: 12/5
Draw: 13/5
Odds via Betfair (subject to change)
Prediction
14:31 , Giuseppe MuroUnited faced the ultimate frustration after they were forced to split the points with Bournemouth last time out, meaning this trip to face Villa presents an interesting test: Can they leave that match in the past, or will they let it get under their skin?
To sink high-flying Villa would be the ultimate recovery after that vexing draw, but that is much easier said than done.
Villa have got the better of some of the Premier League’s finest in recent weeks, and the mood around the club is higher than ever. There is little to suggest they would slip up here.
Aston Villa to win, 3-0.
The scene is set at Villa Park...
The pitchside view from Villa Park 🔍 https://t.co/xYf4dP875p pic.twitter.com/vae4OY5otK
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 21, 2025
Manchester United team news
14:23 , Giuseppe MuroRuben Amorim has been weighing up whether to switch from his 3-4-3 formation and play a back four, with Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui both away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Manchester United have been hit by injuries in defence and Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire and both still missing for the trip to Villa Park.
And Amorim has said he is ready to change systems.
“It will depend on the way we are playing that particular week,” he said. “But if we have to change to a back four, we change to a back four.”
Casemiro is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.
Aston Villa team news
14:14 , Giuseppe MuroUnai Emery has been sweating over the fitness of Emiliano Martinez, who missed wins over Basel and West Ham but has been closing in on a return.
“Emiliano is progressing well," said Unai Emery on Friday. "He is training individually and feeling better, much better. Tomorrow, we will decide if he is available, or not, for Sunday."
Tyrone Mings Pau Torres and Ross Barkley are sidelined and Harvey Elliott is ill.
On-loan winger Jadon Sancho is ineligible to face his parent club.
Former Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof could start against his old club.
How to watch
14:05 , Giuseppe MuroTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 3.30pm ahead of a 4.30 kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.
Good afternoon!
14:04 , Giuseppe MuroHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Aston Villa vs Manchester United!
Could today be the day that Ruben Amorim switches from his 3-4-3 formation? The Manchester United boss has hinted he could use a back four, so all eyes will be on the teamsheets ahead of what is a big game for both sides at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side will be bidding to close back to within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal at Christmas.
We’ll have all the latest updates and build-up right here, ahead of kick-off at 4.30pm.
