Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United - Premier League reaction as Rogers brace moves Villa three points off top at Christmas

Morgan Rogers bagged a sublime brace to spearhead Aston Villa to a 2-1 win over Manchester United, to move three points off top in the Premier League.

Despite entering the game on a nine-match winning streak, Villa started the match slowly, and United grew into the game as the first half wore on.

Benjamin Sesko had two half chances to give the visitors the lead, who were looking to close in on the Champions League spots, but was denied by Emi Martinez on his injury return.

It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock, just before the break.

Rogers cut inside from the left flank and curled an effort into the top corner from the corner of the box, well beyond a helpless Senne Lammens.

But United hit back immediately, when Matheus Cunha pounced on an error from Matty Cash to slot past Martinez.

Late in the first half, Bruno Fernandes appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and was replaced at the break, as United’s midfield got stretched even more thinly.

However, 10 minutes into the second half, Rogers retook the lead for Villa, gathering the ball just inside the area after Ollie Watkins held it up well.

Rogers took two touches to steady himself before curling past Lammens again, though this time the Belgian keeper might feel he could have got a hand to it.

United dominated the ball for much of the second half but did not create many chances, coming closest when Cunha put a free header wide from six yards out.

The win means Unai Emery’s side spend Christmas just three points behind Arsenal at the top, while United missed out on the chance to go fifth and remain seventh, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Villa have two crucial trips to London coming up over the festive period, taking on Chelsea then Arsenal, while United stay home to host mid-table Newcastle and winless Wolves.

Manchester United full back Diogo Dalot speaking to Sky Sports: "I think we had really good moments during the game. Credit to Morgan and I think we tried to do the same things in the second half.

"We could have been a bit more direct, find the spaces in behind, but we have to kill the chances that we had."

On how they could have dealt with Rogers differently: "I think we could have avoided those types of movements but we did enough to score more goals but could not take the chances that we had.

On Bruno Fernandes's injury: "It's massive. We don't know how bad. Hopefully it's not too bad.

"This is the time when opportunities come for other players and you step up and show you deserve to play more minutes.

"We are Man United. We have to find a way to win."

Player of the match Morgan Rogers speaking to Sky Sports: "It's massive. Every game is important. There's no bigger team than United. We don't have a great record against them, so we knew we had to put it right.

"The fans make football. Playing with no fans and playing with fans are two completely different sports.

"It's so enjoyable playing here, we've got the fans behind us, we're really strong at home, and you can see it in our performances.

"Each one of them, they come here very game and make it a great place to play.

"I'm enjoying my football but the team gives me the belief and allows me to be me, so big game, big win."

On whether England speculation drives him forward: "Massively, I play football to be the best version of myself. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I keep working hard and see where it takes me."

On whether Villa are title contenders: "We'll let everyone else make those conversations. We are only focused on the task at hand each game."

One last chance for United to salvage a point.

Guessand does brilliantly to hold the ball off Dorgu and that will be that!

Villa will be third at Christmas with ten wins on the spin!

Villa can't keep hold of the ball at the moment, and Tielemans is down with some problem that will likely run down the clock.

Dorgu goes down, but it is just outside the box. Free-kick in a dangerous position.

Mount to whip it in. He goes for goal, but it's just onto the roof of the net.

Ninety seconds left.

We are into stoppage time now as Cunha carries Untied forward. Lacey drifts inside but shoots straight at Emi Martinez.

Four minutes added on.

Cunha goes for goal from range again but it's easy for Emi Martinez. Yes, he scored, but you feel he has been wasteful in key moments, shooting when a pass could have been better.

Another United corner. Martinez catches, and opts against starting a quick counter.

Villa bring on for Lamare Bogarde Boubacar Kamara.

More changes. Villa bring on Emi Buendia and Evann Guessand for Onana and McGinn. Onana hasn't stopped running all evening.

United bring on 18-year-old winger Shea Lacey for Leny Yoro. He's a Scouser apparently!

Both sides have had 11 shots and four on target. Mount produces a sharp turn on the edge of the box but his shot is straight into a wall of Villa players.

Another Dorgu cross is blocked. He's tried seven today, but just two have been successful.

Now Villa ring in the changes. Watkins departs for Donyell Malen. It has been a tricky season for Watkins but he played a big role in the second goal.

Do I mainly care about that because he is in my FPL? Yes.

Luca Digne replaces Ian Maatsen too.

Here are the United subs. On come Zirkzee and 18-year-old Jack Fletcher, son of Darren.

Off go Sesko and Ugarte. Sesko may not have bagged a goal but his off-the-ball work has been exemplary.

Twenty minutes left and United are showing plenty to suggest they can get an equaliser and maybe even more.

They have to defend for now though as McGinn wins another corner, but it comes to nothing.

Zirkzee is getting ready to come on now. Dalot gets booked for a boot into Maatsen's chest but is very apologetic about it.

Heaven gets dispossessed in a dangerous position, but Watkins is offside when he is sent through on goal.

Dorgu whips in a cross and Cunha has a free header from six yards out but heads wide!

Just as I was praising him as well...

Onana nicks the ball off Ugarte and Villa can counter, but Cunha slides back to deny McGinn at the cost of a corner.

United clear it after Rogers's shot is blocked. Now Cunha tries to emulate Rogers with a long range shot but puts it well wide.

Again, United nearly bite back straight away, but Dorgu sees his shot blocked.

Villa Park is rocking. They are set to spend Christmas just three points behind Arsenal at the top.

Shaw drags back McGinn who looked to counter and is fortunate not to pick up a booking.

It's Rogers again! He is unstoppable at the moment!

It is another curling effort, less spectacular than the last one but just as important.

Watkins does really well to get to a Tielemans cross before Heaven and manages to offload it to Rogers, who takes a touch and curls it past Lammens.

Unai Emery whips his coat off and throws it into the Birmingham sky in celebration.

Lovely link-up play between Cash and McGinn before the former has a shot blocked. United look a bit pedestrian as they work the ball from side to side.

Sesko wins a corner after Maatsen gets caught napping. Shaw curls the ball in but Villa clear twice before Mount drives a volley wide.

And with that, the second half is underway. Looks like Martinez will partner Ugarte in the heart of the midfield.

Mount tries to fire a cross into Sesko but the forward can't quite get a toe on it as he lunges forward.