With Morgan Rogers’ brilliant brace sealing a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, Aston Villa stepped up their unanticipated Premier League title challenge.
At Villa Park, Rogers’ stunning strike late in the first half gave Unai Emery’s side the lead.
Moments later, Matheus Cunha scored the equalizer for United, but Rogers added his sixth goal in his last six league starts to give Villa its 10th straight victory.
As they attempt to capture their first English title since 1981, Unai Emery’s third-placed team are just three points adrift of leaders Arsenal and one point behind second-placed Manchester City.
Since 1914, Villa have won 11 straight victories, which is their best winning streak ever.
For the first time since 1989-1990, when they finished second under Graham Taylor, they have won seven top-flight games.
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Even with only two points and one goal scored in their first five matches, Villa’s ascent to the top of the league is even more remarkable.
With just one Premier League home defeat coming against Villa Park in 2025, Emery has transformed it into a fortress.
Even United, which had only lost once in their previous 26 trips to Villa, were unable to derail Emery’s title push, despite Arsenal’s already-loss this season.
After drawing with Bournemouth 4-4 on Monday, seventh-placed United are now winless in their last two league games following their second defeat in their last 11 matches.
Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain, reportedly had a hamstring issue, which added to Ruben Amorim’s issues.
Amorim, who lost seven players to Villa, couldn’t have anticipated Fernandes’ injury coming at a worse time.
Casemiro was suspended, while Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Wessair Mazraoui are attending the Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to Casemiro, who suffered injuries and was injured.
When Al-Hilal made a summer transfer for Fernandes, the club recently said that United “wanted me to go.”
Emery is delighted, and  
United will experience what life would be like without Fernandes if the Portugal midfielder decided against moving to Saudi Arabia.
After crashing into the Villa area, Benjamin Sesko should have led, but he made a mistake and gave Emiliano Martinez time to flee off his line and block the Slovenian’s effort.
In the 45th minute, Villa launched a masterfully executed counter-attack.
Rogers sprinted down the left flank with a pin-point pass from John McGinn, and the England midfielder scurried past Leny Yoro with a brilliant finish into the far corner.
On the stroke of half-time, when Matty Cash pounced on Cunha for a clinical finish from an acute angle, the defender dawdling in possession.
In the 57th minute, Villa’s advantage was restored thanks to Fernandes’ devastating defeat in the second half.
Rogers seized on a loose ball in the United area and guided a vicious finish past Senne Lammens from 12 yards, showing more desire than Yoro.
Emery roared in joy as he threw his jacket in the air to mark the occasion.
Martinez saved from Diogo Dalot and Dorgu to keep Villa’s lead, but the Spaniard’s joy was almost immediately curtailed.
Cunha wasted a better chance by heading wide from Dorgu’s cross.
Jack Fletcher, the son of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, made his debut with Amorim, but his debut was destined to be a failure.
Source: Channels TV
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