Aston Villa made it ten consecutive wins across all competitions with a 2-1 win over Man United at Villa Park on Sunday (December 21), thanks to a fantastic brace from star man Morgan Rogers.
The 23-year-old opened the scoring just before half time beating Leny Yoro with ease before slotting it beyond Senne Lammens. Villa’s lead didn’t last long though, Matheus Cunha restored parity three minutes later.
Rogers stole the show once again, continuing his fine form and getting his and Villa’s second of the game in the 57th minute. Man United pushed for another equaliser, but Unai Emery’s side were able to see it out and keep the pressure on Man City and Arsenal.
Morgan Rogers is the man
Rogers is in the form of his life, playing like he has a point to prove ahead of the World Cup, but at this point, if he isn’t England’s starting number ten, Thomas Tuchel might be facing an inquest. Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer really need to step it up.
Following a brace against West Ham with another one against Man United, he doesn’t care who he’s up against, and the numbers show it. Rogers has added a high level of clinical edge to his game, he had just 32 touches against United, the least of any outfield player to play the full 90 minutes.
His first goal was sublime. After a heavy touch, he managed to keep the ball in, beating Yoro like he wasn’t even on the pitch before curling it well beyond Lammens. It’s the type of goal a player oozing with confidence scores, and Villa are reaping the benefits, they’ll be hoping they can keep him.
It’s time to worry about Bruno Fernandes
We might finally learn the answer to the age-old question of where Man United would be without their talismanic captain. Fernandes had played almost every Premier League minute for Ruben Amorim’s side, with his only other substitutions coming in the last few minutes against Chelsea and Liverpool.
Fernandes stopped to rub the back of his leg in the first half with an apparent muscle injury, and was replaced by Lisandro Martinez at half time, playing the Argentine in a relatively unfamiliar defensive midfield role.
Since his debut on Feb. 1, 2020, Fernandes is the only Premier League player to have played over 300 competitive games at club level (308) and has missed just 17 of United's 325 matches in all competitions.
It still remains to be seen how bad it is and how long he could be out for, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time, with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo away at AFCON. Perhaps we’ll finally get to see Kobbie Mainoo start a game…
The beginning of the end for Kobbie Mainoo?
Amorim claimed that Mainoo was left out of the squad due to a slight calf injury, but it felt like a statement from the manager following his brother’s controversial ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt incident during the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
The midfielder hasn’t started a single Premier League game this season, featuring for just 212 minutes across his 11 games. Mainoo reportedly continues to push for a move away having had his summer loan request turned down, and it’s hard to blame him for it.
Mainoo received one of the biggest cheers of the game when he came on for the final 30 minutes against Bournemouth. Amorim has receive substantial backing since joining United, with little evidence to suggest he should have received it. His treatment of Mainoo and likely subsequent sale could be the final straw for many fans.