Eight-goal drama at Old Trafford: Manchester United twice fight back to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa

In a breathtaking eight-goal match at their home ground Old Trafford, Manchester United twice came back from two goals down to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa. But despite the remarkable comeback, they head into the two-week international break still in the relegation zone.

Nottingham Forest's win over Manchester City on Saturday had already pushed the Red Devils into the bottom three of the table. After Sunday's match, Michael Carrick's side sit 18th with only 8 points from 10 matches, one point from safety.

Disaster struck the United camp at the very start of the match. Unai Emery's side scored twice within the first four minutes to take a 2-0 lead. In the first minute, Alisson's powerful shot went through goalkeeper Senne Lammens and into the net. Three minutes later, Lammens saved another Alisson effort, but Nicolas Jackson pounced on the loose ball and scored.

United recovered from the early blow, and in the 14th minute Villa's Boubacar Kamara fouled Matheus Cunha in the box. Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty to bring his side back into the game. United then took control and equalised just before half-time, with Youri Tielemans — who joined Old Trafford from Villa this season — finishing superbly from Noussair Mazraoui's cutback to make it 2-2.

After the break, United threw away all their first-half gains. One minute into the second half, Diogo Dalot fouled Alisson in the box, and John McGinn scored from the penalty to put Villa 3-2 ahead.

Shortly after, in the 53rd minute, a free kick caused a calamitous own-goal moment. Leny Yoro's back-header was punched by Lammens, the ball came back off the crossbar, and the unmarked Leon Goretzka tapped it in to make it 4-2 for Villa.

With the team counting down to certain defeat after conceding two goals in eight minutes, the thrilling final act began. After the 90 minutes were up, United staged a fairytale comeback in added time — the second time in a week they have come back from two goals down.

In the second minute of stoppage time, substitute striker Joshua Zirkzee scored to make it 4-3. Then, in the sixth minute of added time, young wing-back Patrick Dorgu headed home perfectly from a measured corner delivery.

When the final whistle blew on the late drama, Carrick's side left the pitch relieved to have avoided defeat. But the single point changed nothing in the table — United go into the international break in 18th place with 8 points from 10 matches, just one point from safety.