It was a nervy performance from the champions, but two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and a wonderful winner from young substitute Macheda depp into injury time was enough for United to climb above Liverpool at the top of the League.

The 5 minutes of added time are up and United look to have snatched this late on.

Fine ball from Petrov almost finds Carew free in the area but it's well intercepted and United look to break.

Corner to United. Cross from Evra is turned nervily behind by Davies.

There will be 5 minutes of added time here.

Great chance for United in the final minute. Ronaldo drives down the right and crosses into the area. The ball falls nicely for Welbeck but from 8 yards Friedel closes it down and saves.

Fletcher works to close down and win the ball from Barry on the left hand side. The ball bounces towards the edge of the Villa area and Ronaldo finds space to shoot but he drives it over and wide and it's a goal kick.

Break from United with Ronaldo. He feeds Giggs who tries to play a one-two with Tevez but the return ball is just behind him.

Luke Young struggles to clear for Villa. Macheda wins it before Giggs and Fletcher exchange passes. Fletcher hits it well from 15 yards out on the right hand side but Friedel turns it over for a corner.

The noise level has been turned up several notches at Old Trafford and United are really pressing for a winner.

Ronaldo has been on the periphery of most of this game but his goal could set up a grandstand finish here.

Corner to United. Evra's cross is charged down and out for another corner to the home side.

Great ball into the box from the left by Giggs. Again, no one can get themselves on the end of it and Villa get the ball away.

Specualtive effort from Tevez from 35 yards. It's deflected wide and out for a United corner.

Villa looking dangrous on the break. Great cross field ball from Ashley Young to Agbonlahor. He beats O'Shea to it and the Irishman fouls him to give Villa a free kick 10 yards out on the left.

United just starting to apply some pressure. They work the ball wide though to Evra and his cross is poor and easily cleared.

Good ball forward by Tevez for Macheda down the left. He crosses well but it goes beyond everyone to the far post. Giggs picks it up but the ball into the area is not great and Villa clear.

Good corner in from the left hand side finds Evans but his header is over and out for a goal kick.

Corner to United. Good ball forward by Carrick in the left hand channel looking for Giggs. He crosses left footed by the ball is deflected out for a corner.

Another ball into the box from United. The ball is whipped in dangerously from the right. Substitute Macheda throws himself at it but can;t quite get on the end of it and the ball drifts on the left hand side.

Half chance for United. The ball falls to Ronaldo, but he can't find the space for a pass or a shot and the danger is over.

Carew runs at Evans down the left hand side. He knocks the ball through the defender's legs but he can't pick the ball up and United clear.

It's becoming a frustrating afternoon for United. The ball is forward to Tevez, but he can't hold the ball up and Tevez fouls Barry and Villa have a free-kick. Barry will need treatment.

United try to attack with Tevez through the middle. He almost plays in Neville down the right hand side of the penalty area but Villa just cut the ball out and clear.

It was Ronaldo who gave the ball away easily well inside the Villa half. Villa broke quickly and the next time Utd touched the ball was picking the ball out of the net. The title race is most definitely on.

Agbonlahor gets the ball inside the Utd box on the right hand side. He turns and crosses left footed but he can't pick anyone out and United come away with the ball.

Agbonlahor is put away down the left hand side as United try to play offside and they've just got away with it this time as the referee's assistant waves his flag for offside. It looks very close.

Good ball forward from Giggs through the middle looking for Tevez, but Young covers round and clears the ball for a United throw.

Long throw in to the box, Ronaldo can't win it cleanly but Villa struggle to clear and Fletcher attempts to shoot from the edge of the area but he can't make clean contact and the ball is out for a goal kick.

Tevez attacks down the right for United, but Cuellar does well to stand up and nicks the ball away for a throw-in.

Ball forward down the right hand side by Fletcher. Cuellar tries to run the ball out but great work from Tevez and he forces a throw-in from the Villa defender 6 yards out.

Long ball forward from Carrick towards Tevez, but it's too high for the United frontman and harmlessly through to Friedel.

Ronaldo attempts to rin with the ball down the left. He nicks the ball past Luke Young but goes down awkwardly and he looks to be holding his back as he gets up gingerly.

Positive start from United. Giggs lobs the ball forward dangerously for Tevez. He is eased out by the defender and the ball bounces through to Friedel in the Villa goal.

Ronaldo's fine finish from an indirect free kick inside the area gave United the lead, but rather than going on and establishing themselves in the game Villa pulled themselves level after a fine header from John Carew.

Ashley Young has been a real danger down the Villa left and Carew was unlucky to hit the post with a header from a corner.

Villa have been the better of the two sides in the opening half and Martin O'Neill will be delighted at how his team have responded following their mauling last time up at Anfield.

Alex Ferguson will be starting to feel the pressure as United have stumbled towards half time without any great fluency to their play and little attacking threat.

Corner to United right at the end of the half. Fletcher hacks the ball forward down the left hand side and Ronaldo speeds on to it. He tries to beat Davies but it deflects out for a corner.

Corner to Villa. Milner shoots from 25 yards, but it's deflected out wide of Van der Sar's left hand post for a corner.

Shot from Carrick for United but it goes harmlessly over. He picks up the ball 35 yards and moves forward towards the edge of the area, but his left footed effort is too high.

Villa attack down the right with Milner. The ball goes low across the box but misses everyone. Carew picks it up at the far post, but United see of the threat and then win a free-kick as Villa try to win the ball back.

Wild strike from Nani from the right hand side goes well high and wide and out for a Villa goal kick. It's been a quiet half from the United winger.

Danger for United again. Good cross in by Milner on the right but Carew just can't get his head to it and United manage to clear the danger.

United probe, looking for an opening but they seem to be lacking a bit of width. They eventually get the ball to Nani in a wide position but his cross finds the first defender. When the ball comes out to Carrick his pass is over hit for a goal kick.

Young gets the ball again down the left hand side. He turns inside and out trying to get some space against Neville. He works an opening for a shot on his right foot but his effort from 15 yards it straight into the arms of Van der Sar.

Free-kick by Nani on the right hand by-line about 45 yards out. It's a great right footed in-swinging delivery. Ronaldo gets on the end of it but his header goes straight at Friedel.

Good run by Ashley Young. He tries to play in Carew but it's overhit and Carew is offside in any case.

Good possession from United in the Villa half, but they find no space to get behind Villa and it ends with Carrick trying his luck from 35 yds. The ball is charged down and bounces harmlessly through to Friedel.

Villa force another corner but it's wasted this time as Van der Sar collects easily.

United waste possession in midfield and play the ball to Agbonlahor. He knocks the ball past O'Shea, but Neville covers round well and clears for a throw-in.

Villa attack through the middle with Carew. He carries the ball towards the edge of the area before feeding Petrov on the right, but he's delayed the pass and Petrov is adjudged to be offside.

Sloppy ball from the back by Villa and they give a cheap throw-in to United 30 yards out. Ball is played in towars Fletcher but he is again crowded out and Villa clear.

Ball down the left by Ashley Young finds Agbonlahor. He beats Neville easily but his low cross is cut out well by Van der Sar.

Free-kick to Aston Villa on the halfway line. Petrov aims high towards Carew but Neville heads clear and United try to break. Friedel is out to clear but only as far as Nani. He feeds Tevez but the play breaks down and the danger is over.

United seem to have grown in confidence and settled into this game since the goal. Evra attacks down the left, but Carew brings him down and it's a free-kick to United on halfway.

Great strike by Ashley Young from the free-kick, but Van der Sar dives to his right and pushes the ball around the post for a corner.

It's almost a penalty for Aston Villa. The ball is played forward towards Petrov right on the edge of the area. Fletcher collides with him and the referee awards the visitors a free-kick. It's about a foot from being a penalty.

Nani has gone down injured on the left hand side. He charged down a clearance from Davies and it looks to have hit him awkwardly.

Corner to Man Utd. Giggs is almost in on goal to double the lead for United, but his shot is deflected away and wide for a corner.

The ball is played into the area and Milner intercepts but he passes back to Friedel who already looks to have it covered and United have an indirect free-kick in a dangerous position about 8 yards out.

First signs of an attacking threat from the home side. Tevez plays a one-two with Fletcher 30 yards out and the ball is worked between Giggs and Fletcher but he is crowded out on the right hand side and the danger is over.

Long ball forward from halfway looks for Carew on the edge of the area. He wins the header well, but he can't pick out his strike partner and the ball drifts through to Agbonlahor.

Villa attack down the left again. The ball is played up towards Carew who helps it on to Agbonlahor in the left hand channel. He dribbles into the left hand side of the box but his cross-cum-shot flashes across goal and Utd clear the danger.

More possession for Villa. Ball in towards Milner though is overhit and he can't control and the ball is out for a goal kick.

Villa hit the post. Corner comes in from the Villa left, Carew wins the header but it clips the post as Fletcher tries to clear off the line. It's a great start from Villa.

First corner of the game and it goes to Villa. Good run from Shorey down the left but his cross is intercepted out for a corner.

Villa have started very brightly here and Young has got himself on the ball in good positions down the left hand side.

Good attack from Villa. Carew feeds Young on the left hand side. It's a good cross looking for Agbonlahor, but Van der Sar is out fast and punches clear.

Long ball forward from Villa. Barry tries to put the ball in behind O'Shea for Ashley Young to run onto but he has strayed offside and it's a free-kick to United.