Aston Villa

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Matt: A dogged and determined display for. Hats off to Rogers again for being the creative force. As for Matty Cash, just like Konsa against West Ham last week, when will we learn? Could easily have been the mistake that lets the opposition back in. Really impressed that we simply don't let these silly mistakes dictate the rest of the game. In Emery we trust.

Tony: That was not pretty, but we have somehow learnt to win whatever - and against Man Utd. They've beaten us so many times over the decades - nobody in the seats around me thought we'd win that when 2-1 up with four minutes to go - so much personal pain against the Red Devils. As for Rogers? Just thank goodness for such quality.

Ian: Not our best performance against a good Man Utd team who perhaps deserved more but a vital three points. The difference again was Morgan Rogers who just gets better and better. Big tests coming up before end of the year but we have momentum and confidence so let's hope they can keep this great run going. Keep the faith!

Man Utd fans

David: Man Utd played well and didn't really deserve to lose but two pieces of awful defending by Yoro cost us. It was pretty obvious what Rogers would do and fair play he took the chances well, but he should never get the chance if Yoro did his job properly. Villa were disappointing but they won't mind as they got the points.

Stephen: That was actually a good performance by Man Utd, they controlled the game for long periods and never stopped trying. They also had big chances, unfortunately Villa had two moments of magic assisted by poor defending by United.

Scott: The result was expected. Forget stats, possession, xG, etc. Quite simply United have lost yet another game. Still a poor bunch and don't expect higher than 10th this year.

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Aston Villa are flying higher than Unai Emery's coat.

The team who compile this Villa page for you hardy fans think this may indeed be the image of the weekend (some say the year).

So, as a festive treat, we have taken Unai's eruption and put it in some fresh styles for you. Let's start with a hint of claret...

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Now let's sharpen the focus...

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What if we go for some kind of canvas-style art print...

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And finally, we'll give the coat some in-flight magic powers...

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says Morgan Rogers "is unplayable at the moment" for Aston Villa and he "would pay good money to go and watch him" every week.

Rogers' double helped Villa to a win over Man Utd and maintained pressure on league leaders Arsenal, who remain three points ahead.

"I don't think Villa were actually that good against United and it was just Rogers who got them the three points," said Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He has scored numerous goals like the first one in this game, and believe me, it is so hard to bend it into that top corner.

"I loved Unai Emery's celebration. He took his jacket off and threw it so high in the air because he knew how big that goal was if they are to keep the pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal.

"He is a fantastic player so I feel sorry for Thomas Tuchel when he is working out who will be playing as England's number 10 at the World Cup because this boy is not going anywhere. He is one of the best around at the moment.

"At the start of the season, Villa fans were booing him because he'd had his head turned! You have to give credit to Emery as manager here for backing him.

"He didn't take him out of the squad, he left him in there to deal with the pressure. That has taken him to a different level, along with some other players, and you can see Rogers is excited to play because he just glides past players.

"I would pay good money every week to go and watch him - that is how good he is. "

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Pundits Wayne Rooney and Dion Dublin join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixture.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to the full match commentary on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United

Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Wolves and Norway defender David Moller Wolfe, 23, in the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Morgan Rogers is spearheading Aston Villa's title challenge.

Another spectacular double saw Uani Emery lose his usual cool to celebrate on the sidelines but he will not be the only one ready to realise Villa's potential this season.

Emery has nurtured Rogers and taken him to another level and he is one who continues to prove his value.

Emery was the driving force to sign the 23-year-old and, having turned him into a key England player under Thomas Tuchel, he is also one of the stars of the Premier League season.

The forward has seven goals this season - scoring in victories against Tottenham, Leeds and West Ham prior to United - and is Villa's top scorer and talisman.

The problem Villa will have, and have admitted to, is they will still need to sell at least one talent next summer.

Rogers is first on that list, ahead of Boubacar Kamara, and a good World Cup will only increase the bids and bidders.

Villa's £16m outlay - having signed Rogers from Middlesbrough in 2024 - looks like one of the bargains of the recent Premier League era.

His growing influence at Villa has spearheaded their challenge for a return to the Champions League and, regardless of Emery's denials, a title challenge.

Unai Emery spoke to Sky Sports after Aston Villa's victory against Manchester United: "I'm very happy. Our supporters should be proud of everything we are doing together because the energy is very important. How they transmit the energy, how they are helping us here to feel Villa Park is out fortress.

"It's really fantastic. And then compete, compete. Sometimes we can't dominate, sometimes we must defend. We must be resilient which we need today well. But being resilient, taking our time, with our qualities, overall we must be proud of everything we are doing. But first have issues and of course be realistic.

"After those three points of course we are taking advantage but still a lot of work to do. We are building the team in different ways. Of course the mentality is very important. This is through our mentality. We must understand how much team we are facing and how we can compete, stopping them. Our capacity too, tactically. We need our structure defensively and offensively to get good positions. Then our qualities. With our supporters helping us. The energy was important as well. "

Goalscorer Morgan Rogers also spoke to Sky Sports: "It's massive. Every game is important, against no bigger team than United. They are a tough team to play against and we have not had a good record against them recently so we wanted to put it right and we are just really happy with the three points.

"The fans make football. Playing with no fans and playing with fans is two completely different sports. It is so enjoyable playing here. We have the crowd behind us and you can see it in our performances. Each and every one of them come here every game and make it a great place to play."

Did you know?

Aston Villa have won 10 consecutive matches as a top-flight team for the first time since March 1914 (a run of 11). 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).

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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Manchester United's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez returns as the only change to an Aston Villa side looking for a seventh successive top-flight win for the first time since 1989-90.

Jadon Sancho is not involved against his parent club and there is still no place in the matchday squad for Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins. Substitutes: Bizot, Buendia, Digne, Garcia, Malen, Bogarde, Guessande, Lawrence, Routh.

Manchester United are without seven senior players, including Kobbie Mainoo, who has been ruled out of a potential first start of the season due to a small injury.

Benjamin Sesko, Manuel Ugarte and Patrick Dorgu come in for Bryan Mbuemo and Amad Diallo, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Manuel Ugarte replaces Casemiro, who is suspended.

Academy quartet Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Shea Lacey and Bendito Mantato are on the bench.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mount, Cunha, Sesko. Substitutes: Bayindir, Heaton, Martinez, Zirkzee, Malacia, Fredricson, Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato.

Manchester United are still a bit of an oddity but they are entertaining, you'd give them that. They have scored eight goals in their past two games.

United have some sort of hoodoo over Aston Villa, who have only beaten them in one of their past 26 Premier League meetings - Unai Emery's first game in charge, in November 2022.

I usually think that sort of history in a fixture holds a lot of weight when it comes to making my predictions.

But Villa have already beaten Arsenal this month, so why can't they beat United? I think they can.

Also, for Villa to have won nine games in a row is just unbelievable.

I am a dreamer in life, as you will all know, and I want Emery to make it 10 wins in a row. Nothing against United, but I am going for another Villa victory.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa seek to maintain their exceptional form at the expense of bogey side Manchester United on Sunday. BBC Sport touches on some of the key themes going into this game.

Villa 'not feeling the pressure'

Aston Villa are very much in the title race. The evidence is irrefutable.

Unai Emery's side sit just three points off the pace before this weekend's fixtures and the league is more than 40% of the way towards its conclusion.

"We are not feeling under pressure," said Emery after last Sunday's 3-2 win at West Ham. "We are feeling ambitious and we [will] try to challenge in Europe and in the Premier League."

The Villans have been the form team in Europe's top five leagues since the end of September and could win seven successive top-flight matches for the first time since the 1989-90 season, when they finished second under Graham Taylor.

It is worth noting that Villa made their worst start to a league campaign for 28 years this season, with two points and one goal scored from their opening five matches. The turnaround has been nothing short of exceptional.

Villa Park has been a stronghold for some time now and Emery's side have lost just one Premier League home game in 2025 - a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace in August - which is fewer than any other team.

There is no expectation for Villa to maintain this form and whether they possess the necessary squad depth to mount a sustained challenge is another question completely.

This weekend's match could also pour cold water on any potential challenge at the top as perennial bogey team Manchester United roll into town. Villa have notched just one win in their past 26 Premier League home games against the Red Devils, drawing nine and losing 16. That sole victory was in Emery's first game in charge in November 2022.

United's bad habit

Manchester United travel to the West Midlands in decent form themselves and have suffered just one defeat in their past 10 Premier League games, although four of those have ended level.

The 4-4 draw with Bournemouth last Monday was highly entertaining but it ultimately represents two points lost for United, who led the match three times.

Ruben Amorim's side seem to have developed a habit of relinquishing leads and have dropped a total of 10 points from winning positions in the top flight this season. Only Newcastle, with 11 points, and Brentford, with 13, have dropped more.

Mount's rising World Cup chances

Mason Mount has been turning heads with his recent performances and he will need to continue his upwards trajectory after the loss of key attacking players Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo to the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 26-year-old has scored in each of his previous two away appearances at Crystal Palace and Wolves and will no doubt be keen to outshine his opposite number and the current holder of England's number 10 shirt, Morgan Rogers, on Sunday.

The Villa man has contributed five more goals and assists this season and has converted slightly more of his efforts at goal, but Mount has attempted more shots and created more chances.

Mount has won 36 England caps with the most recent coming at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The current Three Lions manager and his former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is a known admirer and despite three years without an international appearance, another strong showing at Villa Park would do his chances of making the cut in June no harm at all.

Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand has been called up to join the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after Sébastien Haller sustained an injury.

Guessand, who was on the reserve list, will join the team out in Morocco, with Ivory Coast's first Afcon fixture coming on 24 December.

Sarah Rendell
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Villa Park (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery says goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez "is progressing well" but they will decide "tomorrow" if he will be available.

• On the other injuries in his squad: "Tyrone Mings is still injured. He is getting better and maybe in a few weeks he will maybe join us. Pau Torres is the same. Ross Barkley is still injured, longer than those two players. [Harvey] Elliott is sick - he didn't train today."

• On how Villa can maintain their strong recent form: "We have to work like we have the last year but especially the last two months. After our poor start, the players [have been] involved with me in the demands I have and am trying to set in the squad about how we want to work and how we can get our consistency. The players have responded fantastically."

• On the transfer window: "The club is working. Signing some players can add something different."

• On how to keep a crowded squad happy: "The challenge is to win each match. Everything we did is done and we must be focused on the next match only. How we are managing players is very important because we must feel collectively [in order] to perform how we are doing."

• On visitors Manchester United: "They are performing very, very well away. At home, they are having more problems. If you study how they are performing with the new coach last year to this year, I think they are getting better. They have very good players. We are ready but we respect them."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Freya Sweet
BBC Sport Journalist

The noise surrounding Unai Emery's team is growing as the possibility of Aston Villa being title contenders seems to be as real as ever.

Villa are currently on their longest winning streak in the Premier League, coming from behind at West Ham on Sunday for their ninth straight victory.

With 2025 soon coming to an end, Villa's plan to maintain their record of only losing one home game in all competitions for the whole year depends on a result against Manchester United.

After their recent run of form, many might feel that Villa are obvious favourites. However, a wave of anxiety looms over many fans.

Aston Villa's first win in 27 years at Villa Park against the Red Devils was Unai Emery's opening game in charge in November 2022.

Indeed, Villa have only ever won five games in the Premier League against United and just three on their own turf. If anyone can stop Emery's side at the moment, this bogey team seems the most likely.

This unwanted record creates added pressure if Emery's side are going to continue their winning streak and protect the 'fortress' in their final home game of 2025.

Barcelona are considering Aston Villa's 28-year-old defender Pau Torres and Borussia Dortmund's 26-year-old defender Nico Schlotterbeck, as they look to sign a left-sided centre-back. (ESPN), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"We don't panic," said Morgan Rogers in an interview with Villa TV after his latest showstopper topped the bill in Villa's hit East End show.

'Don't panic' is what people usually say just before they start to panic. But Villa play it cool- - or cold, as Rogers might put it.

They have won all five Premier League games since the last international break. That is despite falling behind in three, going two down at Brighton, trailing West Ham twice and grappling with title favourites Arsenal until landing the knockout blow in the very last scene. Not only effective, but box office.

Admire the football - enjoy the show.

"It's a positive to take that we know we're never out of a game and that we can always get back into it," Rogers added. "Of course, we want to start these games better and sometimes starting away games slowly might catch up with us.

"We need to be wary of that, but the resilience, fight and determination to get back into the games is a special thing to have in that group."

Rogers' season is well observed through the same perspective. In the doldrums of late summer, the inspiring form of his first full Aston Villa season seemed to have deserted him.

But when disappointed fans felt he should be left out, Unai Emery decided the best approach was to power through the dry spell. Rogers is one of only three Villa players to start all 16 League games.

"We are not getting the same level in every match," Emery said of Rogers in September, "but be confident you will get the same level again."

"If this carries on, Emery will be gone," read a headline on fans' comments published on this page that same week, exactly three months ago. Just below it sits my own piece arguing that Villa should prioritise the Europa League, since their slow start put them out of contention for a high Premier League finish. It felt like a clever thing to write at the time.

On Monday, a Villa fan called Ron rang BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In to state with confidence that Villa would finish in the top three and win the Europa League.

"I think being from Birmingham and Aston, you don't think you're ever up with those big boys. And we are. And you've got to believe in that, and he's making the players believe in that. And I think the fans have got to start believing it as well."

Believe. It's the season for it.

Listen to full commentary of Aston Villa v Manchester United at 16:30 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio WM (95.6FM/DAB/Freeview 714)

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

Aston Villa plan to open talks with midfielder Youri Tielemans over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2028. (Football Insider), external

Villa have no interest in selling Lamare Bogarde, despite interest from Brighton in the midfielder. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

David Michael
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It is nine consecutive wins for Unai Emery's Aston Villa and, with every victory, the takes become glossier.

Villa are brilliant. Villa are flying. Villa are in the title race. The reality is a little less dramatic.

Let's forget about the T-word for a moment and have some real talk.

Aside from a genuinely impressive all-round performance against Arsenal, Villa's level has not been breathtaking.

That is not devil's advocacy. What has carried them has been resilience, an iron will, and the ability to produce decisive (and great) goals at the right moments.

During this winning run, Villa have made hard work against relegation zone dwellers Wolves and West Ham. Their recent trip to Basel was functional rather than inspiring. Even their 4-0 win over Bournemouth saw them with an inferior xG of 1.3 to the Cherries' two.

Then, akin to how they started the season, Villa have been slow starters, falling behind inside the opening 10 minutes against Leeds, Brighton and West Ham before recovering to win.

To add to their supporters' nerves, they have also conceded a disallowed goal in each of their three games in the past week.

Villa are not exactly doing things the easy way, but as we all know, football is a results business.

Finding a way is a healthy quality to have across a Premier League season. Cynics will argue it is not sustainable - but why isn't it?

Zoom out and Emery's form since arriving at Villa Park is only bettered by three teams in the league.

The year ends with Villa stress-testing their formidable home form against Manchester United, followed by back-to-back away trips to Chelsea and Arsenal.

After those games, Villa's aims for 2026 will be clearer, along with whether this side has the character to meet them.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external