Manchester United twice come back to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa and stay in the relegation zone

Four goals from the visitors, four from United

Manchester United drew 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and remain in the Premier League relegation zone. Villa led 2-0 inside four minutes, with Alysson scoring in the first minute and Nicolas Jackson in the fourth. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back from a 16th-minute penalty, and Youri Tielemans equalised in the 44th minute. John McGinn restored the visitors' lead from the spot in the 48th minute after a challenge by Diogo Dalot on Alysson, and Leon Goretzka made it 4-2 in the 53rd minute. Joshua Zirkzee reduced the deficit in the second minute of stoppage time, and Patrick Dorgu headed the equaliser in the sixth minute of added time after a weak punch from Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

A second fightback in five days

United had come back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, 3 November, a result that ended a nine-match winless run in all competitions. Sunday's point is the second time this week that they have recovered from two goals behind. Despite the two comebacks, United remain 18th, and they have won only once in their first 10 Premier League matches, a start the record books have not seen for 53 years. Lammens was judged at fault for both Villa goals, with Alysson's strike squirming through him and a weak save sending the ball to Jackson for the second.

Carrick's position

Carrick said he still expected to be working with the club over the international break, and he admitted the team had not won enough matches. He pointed to the need for a tighter defence rather than only spirit.

“We need to tighten up on a few mistakes and win football matches.”

Roy Keane praised the Old Trafford crowd on Sky Sports after the match, contrasting the fans' response with the booing the players had received at Bournemouth earlier in the season.

“Manchester United fans get criticised a lot, but I think United fans are really fair supporters, I really do,”

Before kick-off, supporters had unveiled a banner reading 'We don't want a new stadium, we want new owners', which had been banned earlier in the week. The ownership's main targets were the Glazers, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and director of football Jason Wilcox, who were subjected to abuse before the ball was kicked.

Villa's reaction and the referee's decisions

Unai Emery was described as hugely frustrated to see his side throw away two two-goal leads, and he stormed down the tunnel before full-time after Dorgu's equaliser. Villa were unhappy that Lammens appeared to prevent Zion Suzuki from catching the ball before Dorgu headed in. Carrick was applauded off the pitch by the United supporters, even though the team remained in the bottom three and will start the international break in 18th place.