Aston Villa – Manchester United: Rogers Raises The Flag in Villa’s Unexpected Title Tilt (2-1)

On current form, is Morgan Rogers the best player in the Premier League? He certainly is making a credible case for that argument. The England international steered his club to third in the Premier League, registering a brace of beautiful strikes in a win over a Manchester United side that did very little wrong. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

It’s easy to forget, with the sun shining over Aston Villa, that a cloud hung over the club during the summer. Villa had narrowly missed out on an immediate return to the UEFA Champions League following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of last season. What followed was a strained and negative atmosphere, further exacerbated by transfer uncertainties. This was carried into the first few games of the new season, but has since been thoroughly exorcised, with Villa entering this meeting on a nine-game winning streak. 

It can be hard to remember a time when a cloud didn’t hang permanently over United. However, one defeat in their last ten games suggested that perhaps Ruben Amorim had turned a corner and was starting to slowly build what has long been longed for: a solid foundation. Certainly not bad going for the former Sporting manager when you consider the long list of injuries and absentees that the squad is having to contend with, with Kobbie Mainoo, the latest to join the sick bay following an injury in training. 

Unai Emery went with a 4-2-3-1 shape. Emiliano Martínez was back in goal, with a defense of Ian Maatsen, Victor Lindelöf, Ezri Konsa, and Matty Cash. In midfield, Amadou Onana . . .