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00:00Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:30Evening, it's the last match of the day before Christmas and just the one game for you tonight as Aston Villa take on Manchester United.
00:51256 goals between these two for United. How many did you get, Dion?
00:56Just the three.
00:57Just the three.
00:57Villa are on the longest winning streak in the Premier League, but they've only won once in 26 years at home against United.
01:06Robin Cowan was at Villa Park.
01:09A chance for Aston Villa to lay the meetings of Manchester United pass to rest and continue their transformation into true title contenders.
01:18It's six Premier League wins in a row for Unai Emery's side.
01:20The last time they've recorded seven consecutive victories was in the 89-90 season under Graham Taylor.
01:27The only change from the win over West Ham comes in goal.
01:30Emi Martinez returns for a back injury.
01:32Viktor Lindelof makes his 200th Premier League appearance.
01:35194 of them came for Manchester United, who he left for Villa in the summer.
01:40Morgan Rodgers has led the revival after their poor start to the season.
01:44He's been involved in eight goals in his last 11 league games.
01:47Manchester United are forced into three changes.
01:50Ahmad Diallo and Brian Mbomo are on international duty.
01:52Casemiro is suspended.
01:54Patrick Dorgou and Manuel Agathe come in, and there's a first start since the 1st of November for Benjamin Sesko.
01:59The absence of Kobi Meynou from the squad is, according to the club, down to a calf injury.
02:07And so Aston Villa, the form team, but up against their bogey side.
02:11Just five wins in their previous 55 Premier League meetings with Manchester United.
02:18Start with well by Aidan Heaven.
02:22Mount trying to find Sesko.
02:24It's Cunha!
02:27Big opportunity inside the first three minutes.
02:31Villa a bit passive defensively.
02:33It fell nicely for Cunha.
02:35Struck it well.
02:36That was curling inward.
02:39Riven Ameren won the only meeting with Unai Emery on the final day of last season.
02:432-0 at Old Trafford.
02:48Works nicely to Morgan Rodgers.
02:50Ollie Watkins is in here!
02:53Just cut back inside.
02:55And Heaven.
02:57Got a crucial touch.
03:00Suddenly, Manchester United were on the retreat.
03:03Very light at the back.
03:05Good covering there from Heaven.
03:12Clean win from Uri Tielemans.
03:15And Aston Villa are streaming forward here.
03:17Onana to McGinn!
03:20And the follow-up is blocked.
03:22Heaven again.
03:25And as soon as this was won back,
03:28Aston Villa put the pedal down.
03:32Man United outnumbered.
03:33Lamont's pulling off a decent save from McGinn.
03:38Heaven sniffed out the danger once again.
03:44McGinn's corner.
03:48Oh, Rodgers.
03:50Got the final flick.
03:51Fired back across goal by Ian Mattson.
03:53And then you see Rodgers was trying that little back heel flick.
03:59Very, very, very close.
04:02And then you see Rodgers was trying that little back heel flick.
04:02Very, very, very close.
04:02victories.
04:11Fernandes finds Sesko.
04:14Superb block from Emi Martinez.
04:15Villar will cut open here, but Martinez quick off his line to smother.
04:25Acuna finding space, plays it through, Sesko!
04:32It was a big touch, and Emil Martinez took out Mati Cash.
04:45Ooh, yeah, knee to the head on Emil Martinez from Mati Cash.
04:53Well, it looks like Martinez is having a discussion with the medical team.
04:59Yeah, Marco Guzzot will warm up.
05:04Well, they're going to give him a bit of time.
05:12Interception by Fernandes.
05:15Oh, wow.
05:18This could be bad news.
05:24Dean Smith, forever known as the Aston Villa boss, that's got them back up to the Premier League and built the foundations on which they're now thriving.
05:35Now it's dispossessed. Again, McGinn given the ball in a precarious position, but he's kept hold of it.
05:49And Morgan Rodgers has kept it in. Head down. It's Rodgers!
05:55It's an absolute ripper.
06:04Such a swift counterattack. How impressive is this from John McGinn, holding off the challenge.
06:09Finding Morgan Rodgers. He should never score from there. From that position, it's too easy. Getting away from Jorreau, the finish as well. It is absolute perfection.
06:21And Villa have had to bite their time. They've had to soak up a little bit of pressure. They've had to give up possession, but they have their lead.
06:29Oh, that's given away.
06:45Cunha!
06:49Clinical!
06:51Manchester United strike back.
06:55Well, Matty Cash here just dawdled on the ball a little bit. Couldn't decide what he was going to do.
07:02Dorgu won it back. And Cunha finishing that off with such confidence. They gave a goal away in a similar fashion against West Ham United.
07:13They are pegged back. Manchester United will feel, on the balance of play, they deserve that.
07:22The Manchester United's already depleted squad has got a little thinner.
07:26And the captain Bruno Fernandes withdrawn at half-time. And Sandro Martinez on in his place.
07:36It's Martinez!
07:39Well, that would have been a turn up for the books.
07:42Really fancy this child. There's only one thing on his mind.
07:45Trying to beat his fellow Argentine.
07:50Cash finds McGinn.
07:51Delayed and waited for the run of Kamara just behind Tillemans.
08:06Gets the cross in.
08:08Rogers!
08:09When the ball fell to him, you just knew what the outcome was going to be.
08:18And Manchester United looks set here.
08:21Maybe Dallow didn't do quite enough to try and stop the cross. Just rebounded.
08:27Rogers did enough to work the space. Again.
08:32Again.
08:35There's an exquisite finish.
08:38Two last weekend.
08:40Another two today.
08:42Unstoppable.
08:44Here's Dallow.
08:45And a block from Mati Cash.
08:46Well, Villa look vulnerable once again, having scored at one end.
08:55Emi Martinez forced into a good stop.
08:58Here from Dallow.
08:59He's pushed it straight to Dorgoo.
09:00And Mati Cash at fault for the previous Manchester United goal.
09:02Made up for it there.
09:03Quickly across to make the block.
09:05And the block.
09:08And the block.
09:09And the block from Mati Cash.
09:10Well, Villa look vulnerable once again, having scored at one end.
09:12And Emi Martinez forced into a good stop.
09:14Here from Dallow.
09:15He's pushed it straight to Dorgoo.
09:18And Mati Cash at fault for the previous Manchester United goal.
09:21Made up for it there.
09:22Quickly across to make the block.
09:23Picks out Dorgoo.
09:34Pills it down nicely.
09:35Cunha!
09:38Well, Villa giving up chances here.
09:41Tremendous ball from Patrick Dorgoo.
09:44Cunha didn't get the contact.
09:48That should have been too old.
09:49By his reaction, you can see he knows it.
09:53He knows the block.
10:05Dorgoo.
10:06Now he goes right on the edge of the box.
10:11Yellow card for Poghan.
10:14He's mistimed.
10:16It's Mason Mount, nearly a difficult angle from which to shoot.
10:32Very hard win, but a fantastic win.
10:36Of course Villa Park is our fortress, we are feeling it, and we need the supporters here,
10:41how they are transmitting their energy.
10:43The players try to help us with their qualities, their commitment, their attitude is very important.
10:50We try to press high, every ball in Martinez we were there to press, we left our players
10:56one against one behind, of course we cannot block every second ball of transition, but
11:00I think we play well, and if you look at the game I think the best team today lost.
11:05When you consider the start of the season, the turnaround has been absolutely incredible.
11:11I think just sticking true to us, I think that was the most important thing.
11:16We did what we always do, and nothing changed, but we just worked that little bit harder.
11:21No surprise you see the results, the manager is a genius, and he knows what he's doing,
11:25he knows how to get out of situations, he's been in them plenty of times, so I think that
11:29was the most important thing at the time, and we did really well with it.
11:31Can you give us an indication of what was wrong with Bruno?
11:35I think Bruno has an injury, we need to assess, but I think he's not going to play for a few
11:43games, but we'll see.
11:44There's a lot of noise and a lot of debate, of course, around England, and how much do
11:49you listen to that?
11:50Not at all, I focus on myself, I just try and improve, get better, find my form, find
11:55my best at every game, and see where that takes me, there's a whole heap of quality and
12:00talent out there, and I'm just trying to compete at my best and give it my all.
12:04Well, at least we know that when we talk about him in a couple of minutes' time, he won't
12:08be listening to either of you, so that's all right, and we'll come on to him, and we'll
12:12come on to Villa, and all the good stuff in a moment, but it's unusual to praise a team
12:16who've lost, but you want to do that?
12:19Yeah, I thought Manchester United today were really aggressive and brave in going man-to-man,
12:24and made it really difficult for Aston Villa to play out, and there's some examples I want
12:28to show you here, which they got really success from it.
12:32And this is further up the field, yeah?
12:35Yeah, this is further up the pitch, but they were man-to-man all over the pitch, and it
12:38made it really difficult for Aston Villa to play out.
12:40If you see here, man-to-man at the back, no problem, 3v3, but what they tried to do was
12:45force Aston Villa down there, right-hand side, and they wanted the ball to go to Condor, then
12:50eventually to Cash, and then they were going to be aggressive and try and win the ball back,
12:54and they'd done that, and it caused Aston Villa problems, especially the first half,
12:58it caused them big problems.
12:59You see here, it goes to Matty Cash, now Dorgan goes in, Luke Shaw is brave, goes in, wins
13:04the ball.
13:05They don't win the second ball, but now they've got bodies around the ball to be aggressive
13:09and get to the man, and they give a free kick away here, but it's no problem.
13:13And this was constant throughout the first half again, so now you see the body positions
13:17of the Man United players, they want it to go back, then to go down Aston Villa's right-hand
13:20side again.
13:21That happens, they force it into Condor again.
13:26Now it goes into Matty Cash.
13:28Dorgan is there, Luke Shaw is in behind, man-to-man, no problem.
13:32Now what Matty Cash does wrong, he takes an extra touch, which allows Dorgan to get in tight
13:36to him.
13:37He wins the ball back.
13:38Now Cunha is in a really good position, and it's a great finish, and they've got the rewards
13:42for being aggressive.
13:44Again here, Cunha starts this press-off, Ugarte and Martinez follow him, and now man-to-man,
13:53Mason Mount goes on his press, but then he goes again.
13:56When you're man-to-man, you have to go to the goalkeeper.
13:58This time he comes down Aston Villa's left-hand side, but no problem.
14:02Dalo is there, Sesco is there, they win the ball back high of the pitch.
14:05Again, man-to-man in the left-hand side of the pitch, this time Villa's left-hand side,
14:10they win a corner.
14:12Xerxes comes on the pitch, now again, trying to force it down the right-hand side in the
14:17second half.
14:18Aston Villa have learned from their mistakes, they're not going to play short.
14:21Manchester United 3v3 at the back, they win the first ball, win the second ball, it sets
14:27them up on another tack.
14:28So, I thought they were really brave and aggressive, and they've done it really well.
14:32You can see, can't you, how one press then leaves, you can see the trigger points, you
14:36can see that they've worked on it.
14:37Yeah, it's something they've definitely worked on before the game, and it was successful.
14:41It was especially high up the pitch.
14:43And that's the key, isn't it?
14:45High up the pitch.
14:46High up the pitch, yeah.
14:47Because further back, it wasn't, and that allowed the brilliance of Morgan Rodgers to
14:51take advantage.
14:52Yeah, he was the difference in the game, Morgan Rodgers, he was the standout for Villa.
14:57Villa didn't play brilliant today, they didn't have to do anything absolutely outstanding,
15:01but, as Wayne said, half the pitch, great.
15:04But you've got to do this when you're in your own final third as well.
15:08I mean, Joro's in a good position here.
15:10McGinn does what he does, he holds the ball up and he tries to set off the attack.
15:14Now, if you're a defender, like Joro, and you know that your opponent's had a bad touch,
15:21that's when you've got to go in.
15:22You cannot allow an opponent to get to the ball, that's where you've got to be.
15:26Right there, in his face, keep him there, keep him going down the line.
15:30Make sure that he doesn't come inside on his stronger right foot.
15:34This is really, really poor defender.
15:36You cannot allow that to happen, especially if it's Rodgers.
15:41You know what he's like, he's got all the quality in the world to do that.
15:44And the referee helped us out here, Michael Oliver, with his ref cam.
15:48That was an unbelievable view.
15:50You cannot allow them to do it.
15:51It was a great finish, it was, but it's avoidable.
15:54And United should have been more aggressive in their own final third.
15:58Again, three on three, they don't mind that.
16:00They're all in good positions, but then things start to go wrong.
16:03Players start to switch off.
16:05Bad ball to Tielemans, it's in behind him.
16:09And again, Dalo, this is the opposite side this time, he's got to go closer.
16:13He knows that Tielemans is not going to beat him for pace.
16:16Make it difficult for him, get close to him.
16:19They're three on three, everything's fine.
16:21He's facing the corner flag, no danger.
16:23You've got to stop the cross.
16:26Put your leg up.
16:27He allows Tielemans to cross the ball.
16:30Yoro switches off.
16:31Who's there?
16:32The man of the moment again.
16:33That little second touch there does take it away from Yoro, but they are set up.
16:38The ball should never go in the box.
16:40Dalo's got to stop it.
16:42And here's the kind of celebrations you want.
16:44I just hope his phone's not in his pocket.
16:48It's because he's not going to get that back.
16:49No, he's had to go back into Rosé to get his house keys.
16:52But what we're saying is, it's avoidable.
16:55It's avoidable for United in their own final third.
16:59Wayne's saying aggressive up the pitch, which they were, but you've got to be even more aggressive
17:02when you own.
17:03Morgan Rodgers becomes the first Villa player to score two or more goals in back-to-back Premier League games
17:10since you did it in the late 90s.
17:13Right, I gave you some stick at the start, so we'll praise you now.
17:17He's in a great run of form.
17:19He's like their talent.
17:20Him and McGinn are kind of talismanic for Villa.
17:22And as we get closer and closer to the World Cup, all the discussions will be who will
17:27be England's starting ten.
17:28Is he in pole position for you?
17:31Yeah, I think he has to be in pole position because I think he starts the last qualifier
17:34game, the last important game for England in that position.
17:37And then since then, England games, his form has gone even better.
17:40And he's been in great form.
17:42He's scored on goals.
17:43He's quick.
17:44He's strong.
17:44He holds the ball.
17:46So I think at the minute he's in pole position.
17:48There's some quality players, obviously, to try and take that spot.
17:52And there's a long way to go before the World Cup.
17:53But he's doing everything right to try and make sure that position is his.
17:56And does he hold that more of it?
17:57You know, when you talk about the ten, people play ten from different positions, don't they?
18:01Cole Palmer can move into the ten from maybe a slightly wider position or Bellingham from
18:05slightly deeper.
18:06Is he an out-and-out ten, Rodgers, for you?
18:09I think he can play different positions.
18:10But, yeah, I think he's the one who is an out-and-out ten.
18:13You can play in different positions.
18:15Phil Foden can play from the Masades.
18:16Cole Palmer, Eze can play from the Masades.
18:18But I think he's the one who gives more of a presence in there when you need that.
18:25Obviously, his form now is great.
18:28Tuchel seems to like him a little bit more than the other players.
18:31So if he keeps his form up, then he's definitely in pole position.
18:34Are Villa in a title race for you?
18:36Yes, they are.
18:37Why wouldn't they be?
18:38They're three points behind the leaders.
18:39And why not?
18:40They didn't play well today, but they got over the line against the Manchester United side,
18:44which they don't normally beat.
18:45Why do you think some people are not convinced that they're in a title race?
18:49Maybe because they haven't convinced with convincing scorelines, you know, winning by two and three and four goals.
18:57I just feel that a manager like Unai Emery has the credentials to keep them at this level
19:02and keep them as close as he possibly can right towards the end of the season.
19:07So, yeah, I do think they're in a title race.
19:08Do you?
19:09No.
19:11No, no, I don't.
19:12I don't think they are.
19:13And that's not me being disrespectful to Aston Villa.
19:17I think they're just not as good as Arsenal and Man City.
19:20And they're doing excellent.
19:21They're doing great.
19:22But to win the title, it takes a lot.
19:24And I just don't feel that they're going to be in a title race.
19:26Even though their home form is so strong, they've lost once in a calendar year at Villa Park,
19:29even though they've got the experience and the credentials of Emery.
19:34Yeah, but I just think it takes something special to win the Premier League title.
19:38And I just don't think Aston Villa are at the level of Arsenal or Man City.
19:44Right, if you've missed any of the action from this weekend's match of the day,
19:47then it's on the iPlayer along with highlights of every Premier League game.
19:50More reaction and debate on the Monday nightclub on 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 7.
19:55And the most solid documentary, Never Give Up, is available on iPlayer.
20:00Eight games yesterday, loads of goals.
20:02As we split them into two, here's part one.
20:10Dice in, Calafiori with a towering leap, but Arsenal are asking for something else.
20:14They think there's a handball in there.
20:16Oh, that is handball.
20:18Victor Jokeres has been entrusted with this for Arsenal.
20:22Jokeres scores!
20:26Nico Gonzalez, nicely done.
20:28Foden, Haaland, second chance to shoot, and he wasn't about to miss.
20:34Alphonse Areola having saved the first one.
20:38West Hamor to be able to get the ball away here with Fernandes.
20:41That didn't last very long.
20:43The lining up to get it off Scherke, they can't manage it.
20:46Manchester City walk it into the back of the net.
20:48Superb.
20:53That's a lovely pass from Nunez and Savinho.
20:56It's his first touch since coming off the bench, sending it forward.
20:59The touch from Lewis.
21:01Haaland doesn't miss touches like that.
21:03And surely it's game set and match for Manchester City.
21:06Murphy.
21:09Murphy.
21:11In towards Valtemada.
21:14What a save by Sanchez.
21:16And Valtemada with the follow-up.
21:20Oh, this needs to go in.
21:23And it does.
21:24Valtemada.
21:25And the double.
21:30Rhys James.
21:32Oh, it's outstanding from Rhys James.
21:34Chao-Pedro away from Chao.
21:42Chance for 2-2.
21:44From 2-2 down, Chelsea a level.
21:49Worst by Ampadu.
21:51Up ahead of Rich is Calvert-Lewin.
21:53And the second time of asking, does the necessary.
21:59Ampadu with the long throw.
22:01Helps on Calvert-Lewin.
22:04He's got two.
22:06Leeds United have got two.
22:09Stack with the corner.
22:13Aronson returns the ball with it.
22:14Trae.
22:15Stamford-Lewin.
22:16Well, you know things are going.
22:18Leeds United's way when Ethan Ampadu scores.
22:22It's water leg.
22:24Uche is in here.
22:25And has collided with Lucas Perry.
22:27And it's a penalty.
22:29Deveni.
22:31Against Lucas Perry.
22:33He converts.
22:38Stack.
22:39That is quite exceptional.
22:41Stack is in good form at the moment.
22:46But let's talk about that man behind us, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is, it feels like at the moment, in pole position to be Harry Kane's understudy looking ahead to the World Cup as well.
22:57Would you agree or are you going to disagree with that one?
22:59Yeah, again, he's doing everything right and he's got more to do, I think, until the end of the season.
23:08I think Everton were in a position where, you know, and maybe now people look and say they should have kept him.
23:13But, you know, he was injured for two years and that made it difficult for Everton to keep him.
23:17But you have to give credit to the Leeds medical team for getting him back fit and playing every week.
23:22And he's doing what he does.
23:23He's a handful.
23:24He's great in the box.
23:25He's good in the air and he's scoring goals.
23:26So, again, he's putting himself in the bracket of getting in that squad.
23:31But he has to carry on this form until the end of the season.
23:34He does appear to have everything, doesn't he?
23:37Yeah, he appears to be sort of playing naturally, just being a natural goal scorer, getting into good goal scoring positions.
23:43Choosing the right finish at the right time.
23:45You know, even the tapping that he was saved, he was there for the bits as well.
23:48He looks really sharp.
23:50Looks really sharp.
23:51Movement's good.
23:52Using his...
23:52He's six foot four, six foot five.
23:55And he looks in really, really good shape.
23:56He's a proper athlete.
23:58He is.
23:59Obviously, I play with him and seeing him in the gym and how he worked.
24:02If he's fit, he's a handful for any defender in world football.
24:05What's he like, then?
24:06What's he like?
24:08As I said, he's just so difficult to play against.
24:10And people underestimate how physically, you know, big he is and aggressive he is and, you know, good in the air.
24:17And so he's got everything.
24:19But it's just keeping him fit.
24:20So you just hope he can stay fit from now to the end of the season.
24:22I was talking to him recently.
24:23And he said that one of the big differences now is, I think, you know, he's got a child and with his partner and his family and he doesn't listen to anything else.
24:31He shuts everything else out and uses their calm to help him.
24:36Yeah, I think children do calm you down.
24:39That's normal.
24:40And the more older you get, the more mature you get.
24:42Depends on your kids, to be honest.
24:42But, yeah, normally that does help massively.
24:49I suppose the other thing would be, just looking ahead to the England thing again, is whether Tuchel wants a second number nine behind Harry Kane or whether he'll mix and match with others like play Phil Foden as a false nine.
25:03OK, as in a different style?
25:04Yeah, a different style, yeah.
25:05So if he has a good kid, then he'll use Foden as a false nine.
25:08I don't care who it is.
25:09If they're scoring goals and if he can continue to score goals, then he'll have every chance of being in that squad at that level of scoring, yes, without a doubt.
25:16OK, yeah?
25:17Yeah, I think Danny Welbeck as well.
25:19We've been talking about him a few weeks ago and now it's Cal Blue and I just think Olly Watkins is still the one for me behind Harry Kane.
25:24OK.
25:25Right, just time for all of the rest of the goals from yesterday.
25:29Simons left studs right down the Achilles of Virgil van Dijk here.
25:37That is very painful.
25:39After review, my final decision is Rekmar.
25:43Xavi Simons is sent off.
25:48Romero's forward ball hit, McAllister.
25:51Ekechike, that's nicely done.
25:53Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool.
25:59At some cost to himself, he's put Liverpool in front.
26:03And Isak trudges off.
26:05That looks like he might be out of action for a little while.
26:11Frimpton.
26:13With a deflection on the cross.
26:15Ekechike!
26:16And it struck him!
26:18Tottenham protest.
26:20Christian Romero's been shown a yellow card for protesting too much.
26:23There's a real sense that this corner represents maybe a last throw of the dice for Spurs to make it difficult for Liverpool.
26:31Richarlison goes down.
26:32It's a big deflection.
26:34João Palinha.
26:35And Richarlison scores!
26:38Richarlison against Liverpool again.
26:40Connata.
26:42Connata.
26:44Free kick.
26:46Christian Romero is going to be sent off.
26:51That's why Christian Romero got a second yellow card.
26:56Janoff spots Thiago.
26:58All bounces awkwardly and it's finished by Keane-Louis Potter!
27:02Brentford finally break through.
27:05Wolves resistance.
27:08Looking for more here, the visitors.
27:10Damsgaard.
27:11His cross.
27:12Two on the stretch.
27:13Keane-Louis Potter.
27:15That is it.
27:16Home supporters are heading for the exit.
27:21This is Junior Kruppi.
27:23He'll be guilty of overplaying it.
27:24And then the slip.
27:25And Semenyo punishes that moment.
27:29There's the Bournemouth breakthrough.
27:31Oh, that's a lovely ball.
27:35There's the goal for Burnley.
27:38Right on the 90-minute mark.
27:43Ingres finds Lefeuille.
27:45It's a good ball back in the middle.
27:46It's Alderete.
27:47Good save.
27:48And we're Alderete denied by a fine piece of goalkeeping.
27:52Ruda.
27:54By Ari.
27:55This time he does hit the target.
27:57Rebounds off the chest of this underline goalkeeper.
28:01So here's the table.
28:03Arsenal will be top at Christmas.
28:05They lead Manchester City by two points.
28:07Villa three points behind.
28:09Manchester United remain seventh.
28:12Wolves are 16 points from safety.
28:14And could find themselves further adrift if Nottingham Forest secure a positive result at Fulham on Monday night.
28:22That's it.
28:23Thanks to Wayne and Dion.
28:25Match of the Day is back next Saturday.
28:27Have a great Christmas.
28:28Good night.
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