What our writers loved about United 3 Villa 1

Eleven days on from a tough defeat at Newcastle United, it was good to see Michael Carrick's men return to action with an Old Trafford triumph that feels important in the race for those UEFA Champions League places.

Since the final whistle, fans have been sharing their favourite moments from the victory over a fellow European challenger on social media, and our writers have now got involved.

Is one of their picks the same as your Sunday highlight? Keep scrolling to find out...

BRUNO'S ASSIST FOR CUNHA

Sam Carney: There were few Premier League moments over the weekend that made you go ‘wow’, with some of the most shared clips centred around off-the-pitch matters. But I could watch Bruno Fernandes’s assist for Matheus Cunha over and over and over…
 
The Brazilian’s finish, past one of the world’s top goalkeepers, was enjoyable enough, but the pass to set him up was just remarkable and something that only a handful of players would have been able to see, let alone pull off. Amid the excitement, I quickly texted a colleague of mine who had expressed uncertainty about whether this would be the game in which our no.8 reached a century of assists.
 
“Never doubt Bruno!” I quickly wrote, and that’s a maxim you could apply time and again. Whatever next for our brilliant skipper?

BIG BEN STRIKING TEN

Isaac Stacey Stronge: You wouldn't blame Benjamin Sesko for feeling a slight pang of disappointment when Michael Carrick's starting XI dropped on Sunday, given his form so far in 2026, but none of that was evident when he got on the pitch for the last 15 minutes.
 
It nods to the togetherness running through this squad, laser-focused on the team's ambitions rather than their own personal glory, which was also on display in the Slovenian's celebration after he fired home our third moments after coming on.
 
Bounding over to the Stretford End to let out his customary leap, he was in tandem with a star-jumping Matheus Cunha, who played a key role in the ultimately instinctive finish, Sesko's 10th in a United shirt.
 
"Great job @cunha," Ben laughed on Instagram after the game, "thanks for jumping in!"

MAGUIRE'S INFLUENTIAL PERFORMANCE

Adam Marshall: I have to say that Harry Maguire has been nothing short of magnificent since coming back into the team.

For my money, he just has to be in the England squad for the upcoming pre-World Cup friendlies because his consistency has been remarkable. With all his experience and what he brings to the party, I will be shocked if he does not make the plane this summer.

I just love the way he attempts to dominate his opponent from the first whistle, aggressively attacking the ball and exerting his influence. With set-pieces more important than ever, his aerial ability in both boxes is second to none.

The big centre-back created the clearest chance of the first half, for Amad, and made a couple of bone-jarring challenges that lifted the crowd. I reckon, at 33, he’s playing better than ever.

THE CHARACTER OF CARRICK’S MEN

Mikey Partington: I love the Casemiro celebrations, the nonchalance of Fernandes after his two assists and how Cunha joins in with Sesko’s trademark jump, but the most satisfying thing about Sunday’s win for me was the character the Reds showed to get another big result.

Pegged back by Ross Barkley’s equaliser just after the hour mark, the contest could have gone in a very different direction. A victory felt so important to the momentum of both teams’ European ambitions, and you could argue that Villa had the upper hand in the encounter after drawing level. But, as we have often seen over the last few months, United showed resilience, spirit and, ultimately, quality with the two decisive late goals, in a game-state that challenged and asked questions of Carrick’s men.

That ability to go again when adversity smacks you in the face – like when Arsenal scored a late equaliser in our January victory at the Emirates, or when Fulham looked to have rescued a point as we beat them at Old Trafford a week later – is an underrated skill of this team for me, but one that will be imperative for us to maintain if we’re to finish the season inside those Champions League positions.