Bruno Fernandes has scored 27 goals for Manchester United in all competitions this season, the most by a Premier League midfielder in a season since Frank Lampard for Chelsea in 2009-10
Manchester United guaranteed a Premier League top-four finish and ensured rivals Manchester City must wait to be crowned champions as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Having sealed their place in the Europa League final despite a 3-2 second-leg defeat by Roma on Thursday, second-half goals from Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and substitute Edinson Cavani - followed by West Ham's loss to Everton - sealed a Champions League place for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.
A win for Villa would have clinched the title for leaders City - beaten 2-1 by Chelsea on Saturday - and Bertrand Traore's emphatic finish into the top corner midway through the first half threatened to do just that.
Emiliano Martinez was equal to attempts from Greenwood and Marcus Rashford as United struggled to respond initially, while Dean Henderson kept out Ollie Watkins' strike to deny Villa a second before half-time.
United levelled shortly after the restart when Fernandes calmly slotted in a penalty after Douglas Luiz needlessly fouled Paul Pogba, and Greenwood completed a four-minute turnaround when his low strike found the bottom corner.
A VAR check for handball against Greenwood was dismissed after Luiz headed the ball onto the arm of the United forward and the visitors successfully resisted late Villa pressure despite the loss of captain Harry Maguire to injury, before Cavani confirmed victory in the closing stages.
In a frantic finale, Villa forward Watkins also received a red card for a second booking for simulation when under pressure from goalkeeper Henderson.
United are 10 points behind champions-elect City but will have the chance to move within four points as they face Leicester and Liverpool before the leaders next play.
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'At least we don't travel back to a party on the Blue side' - Solskjaer happy to delay City title win
Follow live text commentary of Sunday's Premier League action
United fight back - again
Aston Villa 1-3 Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer praises goalscorer Mason Greenwood
With an exhausting short-term schedule to navigate, Solskjaer made four changes from United's midweek trip to Rome for his side's second fixture in a run of four in eight days - a situation created after last weekend's league meeting with Liverpool was postponed due to fan protests.
Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Victor Lindelof started at Villa Park, and while Lindelof should have offered greater resistance for Traore's opener, there was little Henderson could do to keep out his fine strike.
Solskjaer's side have gone 1-0 down on more occasions (14) than they have gone ahead (13) in the competition this season but, for a Premier League record 10th time in 2020-21, they once again went on to rescue victory.
With poacher Cavani benched after scoring twice on Thursday, United initially struggled to test Martinez despite encouraging build-up play.
But they were rewarded for a much-improved second-half display, with Fernandes' spot-kick setting the tone for a side totally unfazed by falling behind.
Greenwood made his latest claim to be included in Gareth Southgate's European Championship plans with his fifth goal in five Premier League games, though Maguire's early departure following a collision with Anwar El Ghazi will be a concern for both the England boss and Solskjaer.
But Cavani's accurate header from Rashford's cross ultimately capped a positive week for United, in which they reached a first final of the Solskjaer era and co-chairman Joel Glazer announced plans for his first meaningful discussions with fans since his family bought the club in 2005.
Villa unable to end United hoodoo
Aston Villa 1-3 Man Utd: 'I think he got shot' - Dean Smith on Paul Pogba penalty incident
Victory over an Everton side seeking to keep their European hopes alive last week was further evidence of how far Dean Smith's side have progressed this season, even if results since the turn of the year have dipped.
Last term, a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United with four games to go left Villa second-bottom and four points from safety, before they rallied to survive by a single point.
Battling on without injured captain Jack Grealish for a 12th successive match, a resolute defence denied United clear chances and Martinez looked comfortable when Greenwood and Rashford offered tests.
Traore's lack of defensive support for right-back Matty Cash appeared an early concern as Luke Shaw found joy out wide, but he demonstrated his quality in the opposite half as he spun past Lindelof before unleashing a powerful drive into the far corner.
But once Luiz's trip on Pogba allowed United a foothold, Villa faced an uphill task as the visitors made it 22 Premier League visits to Villa Park without defeat.
Villa remain 11th and have a top-half finish to aim for in their remaining four matches of a much-improved second season back in the top-flight.
'We showed character, resilience and belief' - what the managers said
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to BBC Sport: "A great result and it takes a little bit of pressure away from having to get results because the next two [versus Leicester and Liverpool] are against very good teams."
On coming from behind again to win: "It shows character, resilience, belief, fitness. It is difficult at times, especially when you travel back and don't get home until 5am Friday and then travel here. It is a long season and I am delighted for everyone."
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to BBC Sport: "I didn't think we started the game particularly well. We upped it and then I thought we were good first half, we high pressed well and got a good goal. We were quite comfortable at 1-0 at half-time. I think the game turns on the penalty decision.
"There was a touch but was it enough [for Paul Pogba] to go down? I watched Manchester City last night and Sterling had four touches in his back and doesn't get a penalty and today it is a penalty. This is with Stockley Park watching in slow motion so you tell me what is happening because I don't think the football world actually understands it anymore."
United set Premier League comeback record - the stats
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Manchester United have won 10 Premier League matches after conceding first this season, a record by a team in a single season in the competition.
They have also recovered 31 points from losing positions, with only Newcastle United in 2001-02 recovering more in a single Premier League season (34).
United are unbeaten in their last 25 Premier League away games, with those 25 games coming in Bruno Fernandes' first 25 away Premier League appearances for the club.
Mason Greenwood scored his 16th Premier League goal, the most of any teenager for the club, overtaking Wayne Rooney's tally of 15.
Edinson Cavani netted his fifth Premier League goal as a substitute this season, equalling the record of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 1998-99 and Javier Hernandez in 2010-11.
Harry Maguire ended a run of 71 consecutive Premier League matches for Manchester United in which he completed 90 minutes - the joint-longest run alongside Gary Pallister between 1993 and 1995.
Aston Villa have lost eight home Premier League matches this season. Only Sheffield United (13) and Fulham (11) have lost more.
Bertrand Traore is the first player to score home and away against Manchester United and lose both games in a Premier League season since Robin van Persie in 2011-12.
What's next?
Manchester United host Leicester City on Tuesday at 18:00 BST, before welcoming Liverpool to Old Trafford on Thursday (20:15).
Aston Villa face Everton at Villa Park on Thursday (18:00) and travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday (12:00).
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
26Martínez
2Cash4Konsa5Mings18Targett
7McGinn6Douglas Luiz
15Traoré20Barkley21El Ghazi
11Watkins
26Martínez
2Cash
4Konsa
5Mings
18Targett
7McGinnBooked at 79mins
6Douglas LuizSubstituted forRamseyat 65'minutes
15Traoré
20BarkleySubstituted forDavisat 77'minutes
21El GhaziSubstituted forWesleyat 77'minutes
11WatkinsBooked at 89mins
Substitutes
1Heaton
9Wesley
19Nakamba
27El Mohamady
30Hause
39Davis
41Ramsey
52Philogene-Bidace
60Chukwuemeka
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
26Henderson
29Wan-Bissaka2Lindelöf5Maguire23Shaw
39McTominay17Fred
11Greenwood18Bruno Fernandes6Pogba
10Rashford
26Henderson
29Wan-Bissaka
2Lindelöf
5MaguireBooked at 67minsSubstituted forBaillyat 78'minutes
23Shaw
39McTominay
17Fred
11GreenwoodSubstituted forCavaniat 65'minutes
18Bruno FernandesSubstituted forMaticat 86'minutes
6Pogba
10Rashford
Substitutes
1de Gea
3Bailly
7Cavani
8Mata
27Telles
31Matic
33Williams
34van de Beek
38Tuanzebe
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Match Stats
Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamMan Utd
Possession
Home41%
Away59%
Shots
Home11
Away18
Shots on Target
Home5
Away7
Corners
Home5
Away6
Fouls
Home13
Away18
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Manchester United 3.
90'+7'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Manchester United 3.
90'+5'
Post update
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
90'+5'
Post update
Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
89'
Post update
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
87' goal
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Manchester United 3. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcus Rashford with a cross.
87'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Luke Shaw (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
87'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Paul Pogba.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Nemanja Matic replaces Bruno Fernandes.
86'
Post update
Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
86'
Post update
Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Matt Targett (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
83'
Post update
Attempt saved. Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Targett.
83'
Post update
Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
83'
Post update
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
82'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Keinan Davis.
81'
Post update
Attempt saved. Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) header from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by John McGinn.
79'
Booking
John McGinn (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
78'
Post update
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Player of the match
CavaniEdinson Cavani
with an average of 8.17
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Aston VillaAston VillaAston Villa
Man UtdManchester UnitedManchester United
Aston Villa
Avg
Squad number15Player nameTraoré
Average rating
5.94
Squad number26Player nameMartínez
Average rating
5.81
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Average rating
5.69
Squad number18Player nameTargett
Average rating
5.66
Squad number2Player nameCash
Average rating
5.58
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Average rating
5.53
Squad number21Player nameEl Ghazi
Average rating
5.22
Squad number5Player nameMings
Average rating
5.19
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Average rating
5.16
Squad number41Player nameRamsey
Average rating
4.96
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Average rating
4.81
Squad number39Player nameDavis
Average rating
4.79
Squad number20Player nameBarkley
Average rating
4.72
Squad number9Player nameWesley
Average rating
4.71
Manchester United
Avg
Squad number7Player nameCavani
Average rating
8.17
Squad number11Player nameGreenwood
Average rating
7.45
Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
Average rating
7.38
Squad number6Player namePogba
Average rating
7.19
Squad number23Player nameShaw
Average rating
7.12
Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
Average rating
6.98
Squad number10Player nameRashford
Average rating
6.80
Squad number26Player nameHenderson
Average rating
6.63
Squad number31Player nameMatic
Average rating
6.62
Squad number3Player nameBailly
Average rating
6.46
Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
Average rating
6.40
Squad number5Player nameMaguire
Average rating
6.18
Squad number17Player nameFred
Average rating
6.18
Squad number2Player nameLindelöf
Average rating
5.64
Source: bbc.com