Manchester United twice came from two goals down to salvage a remarkable 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday and potentially save manager Michael Carrick’s job.
Goals in stoppage time from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu rescued a point, but United will spend a two-week international break in the relegation zone.
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Carrick’s men conceded twice inside the opening four minutes as Alysson and Nicolas Jackson punished errors from goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The Red Devils rallied to level at half-time thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty and Youri Tielemans’s first goal since moving to Old Trafford from Villa.
A thrilling fightback from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday gave Carrick a lifeline.
This time the comeback fell short as more woeful defending handed Villa two more goals inside the first eight minutes of the second period.
John McGinn converted from the spot after Diogo Dalot up-ended Alysson before Leon Goretzka bundled in from close range.
Yet, there was a final twist in the tale as Zirkzee steered home before Dorgu pounced when Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki failed to connect with a corner in the 96th minute.
Carrick was handed a stay of execution after a 3-0 home drubbing by Bournemouth a fortnight ago.
However, he faces an anxious wait to see if the United board install a replacement before a daunting trip to Liverpool on November 22.
Former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and ex-Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann are among the leading contenders to take charge if Carrick is dismissed.
Saturday’s results saw United slip into the relegation zone after August for the first time in 40 years.
A draw keeps them in the bottom three with just eight points from 10 games.
For the first time in Premier League history they found themselves 2-0 down inside four minutes, in large part due to goalkeeper Lammens.
The Belgian allowed Alysson’s strike to slip between his legs with just one minute on the clock.
From another tame Alysson effort less than three minutes later, Lammens could only parry and present Nicolas Jackson with a gift for his sixth goal in his last six league games.
The United fans had again turned their ire towards the club’s owners pre-match. A banner read: “We don’t want a new stadium, we want new owners,” as protests towards a move away from Old Trafford gather steam.
That anger was directed towards the players in cries of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” in the wake of the second Villa goal.
Yet, the shock of going behind summoned a response as United again found their feet at 2-0 down.
Just as against Roma, the fightback was started by Matheus Cunha winning a penalty, converted by Fernandes.
Boubacar Kamara dived in rashly to clip Cunha before getting a touch on the ball and Fernandes coolly sat down Suzuki to slot home the spot-kick.
United built momentum before levelling just before the break when Tielemans drilled low beyond Suzuki, with the aid of a deflection.
What should have been the launching pad for another stirring fightback quickly fell flat at the start of the second half.
Dalot dived in foolishly to trip Alysson and McGinn made amends for missing from the spot in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Moments later Leny Yoro headed a McGinn free-kick off his own crossbar and Goretzka forced the ball over the line in the goalmouth scramble that ensued.
The closing stages were played out to the tune of more protests against United’s unpopular American owners, the Glazer family, until the home side hauled themselves off the canvas again.
Zirkzee’s cool finish reawakened the crowd and left Villa clinging on. Much to the frustration of Unai Emery, his side could not resist the late assault as Suzuki flapped at Fernandes’s corner and Dorgu accepted the gift.
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Elsewhere, Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Premier League strugglers Sunderland, while Liverpool got back on track with a 3-1 win against lowly Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea arrived at the Stadium of Light hoping to bolster their bid to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.
Instead, they departed red-faced after an embarrassing loss to third-bottom Sunderland, who celebrated a league victory for only the second time this season.
Fifth-placed Chelsea have already been beaten four times in 10 league matches under former Real Madrid boss Alonso.
Chelsea were rocked in the 36th minute when Enzo Le Fee converted a penalty after Brian Brobbey was up-ended by Levi Colwill.
“We were not creating enough chances in the final third against the low block. We were not controlling and sustaining the attack there,” Alonso said.
“You can do it, we spoke and worked. We didn’t do good enough but we worked during the week to control their powers. For sure in a few situations we didn’t do well.”
Liverpool had been beaten by Arsenal in the Premier League and Fenerbahce in the Champions League before arriving in south London, sparking pointed questions about Andoni Iraola in the former Bournemouth manager’s first season in charge at Anfield.
But Alexis Mac Allister headed Liverpool in front at Selhurst Park from Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross after 40 minutes.
Florian Wirtz bagged Liverpool’s second with a composed finish from Bradley Barcola’s cross in the 54th minute.
It was Wirtz’s first league goal this season and only the second in all competitions for the inconsistent German playmaker this term.
Alexander Isak finished off Wirtz’s pass in the 89th minute to wrap up fourth-placed Liverpool’s much-needed victory after a two-game losing streak.
It was Liverpool’s fourth consecutive away league win this season. Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time penalty after a foul by Milos Kerkez was no consolation for Palace.
Palace manager Pierre Sage — hired to replace Oliver Glasner in the close-season is on the brink of being sacked after his side slumped to the bottom of the table following their seventh defeat in 10 league matches.
“It was an important win for us going into the international break after the week we’ve had,” Iraola said.
“First half we struggled a little bit defensively but after we closed the game quite well even if I’m a little bit upset with the last penalty.”
Brighton extended their superb start to the season, climbing to second place with a 2-0 win against Brentford at the Amex Stadium.
While Fabian Hurzeler’s side might not have the staying power to challenge Arsenal for the title, they have established themselves as contenders for a Champions League place.
Diego Gomez’s 25-yard rocket gave the Seagulls the lead in the 15th minute. Brentford striker Igor Thiago was sent off for clattering Chema Andres in the face midway through the first half.
Pascal Gross doubled Brighton’s advantage with a 42nd minute penalty after Keane Lewis-Potter fouled Luka Vuskovic.
The Seagulls’ sixth win in their last seven league games lifted them above third-placed Manchester City and within five points of champions Arsenal, who beat Hull on Saturday.
Evanilson maintained his hot streak in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win at Ipswich. The Cherries’ Brazilian forward struck with a clinical finish in the fifth minute, taking him to seven goals in his last eight games.
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An own goal from Leif Davis in the 46th minute increased Bournemouth’s lead and Jack Clarke’s 73rd minute penalty wasn’t enough to rescue Ipswich.
In Sunday’s late game, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick cannot afford a defeat against Aston Villa at Old Trafford as he fights to save his job ahead of the international break.
United are without a victory in their last seven league games and have won just once in the top-flight this term.
They ended a miserable nine-match winless run in all competitions by coming from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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