Manchester United twice recovered from two goals behind to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, but Michael Carrick’s side remain in the Premier League relegation zone heading into the international break.
United had fallen into the bottom three after Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City on Saturday. Their difficult weekend appeared to worsen when Aston Villa raced into a 2-0 lead within the opening four minutes.
The hosts fought back to draw level before half-time, only to concede twice more during the first eight minutes of the second half. However, they produced another remarkable recovery, having also come from two goals down to beat Roma on Tuesday.
Joshua Zirkzee reduced the deficit with a strike two minutes into stoppage time, making it 4-3. Patrick Dorgu then completed the comeback in the sixth minute of added time, heading in from a corner.
Manchester United nearly snatched an unlikely victory but had to settle for a point. The result leaves them 18th, one point from safety, before a two-week break.
The draw will not completely relieve the pressure on Carrick, particularly after United’s disjointed defending, although he will be the more satisfied of the two managers.
Villa make flying start
Unai Emery’s side needed less than a minute to take the lead. Alysson’s effort squeezed beneath Senne Lammens, who was called into action again moments later to parry another shot from the Villa forward. Nicolas Jackson reacted first to the rebound and doubled the visitors’ advantage.
United were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute after Boubacar Kamara brought down Matheus Cunha in the area. Bruno Fernandes converted confidently to give the home side a route back into the match.
The goal shifted the momentum in United’s favour and they controlled much of the remainder of the first half. Their pressure was rewarded shortly before the interval when Youri Tielemans, who joined Manchester United from Villa in the summer, finished from Noussair Mazraoui’s cutback.
United’s progress was quickly undone after the restart. Villa won a penalty one minute into the second half when Diogo Dalot fouled Alysson, and John McGinn sent Lammens the wrong way.
Villa restored their two-goal lead in the 53rd minute. Following a free-kick, Leny Yoro headed the ball back towards his own goalkeeper. Lammens punched it against the crossbar, but Leon Goretzka was on hand at the far post to turn in the rebound.
For much of the second half, Villa appeared set to secure a victory that would have lifted them to eighth in the table. Instead, United’s late surge transformed the contest and gave Carrick some relief, despite the defensive problems that had threatened to leave the hosts empty-handed.
