Manchester United twice came from two goals down to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, in a Premier League classic that still leaves them in the relegation zone. Villa led inside a minute through Alysson and were 2-0 up after four; Bruno Fernandes’s penalty and Youri Tielemans’s strike levelled it by half-time, only for John McGinn’s penalty and Leon Goretzka’s goal to put Villa 4-2 ahead. With Unai Emery’s side still two goals clear in the 91st minute, substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu scored in stoppage time to rescue a point. Here is how every Red rated.
Starting XI
Senne Lammens – 2/10 At fault for both early goals — beaten through his legs by Alysson for the opener, then parried a shot straight to Jackson for the second — and slow off his line again later.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5/10 Assisted Tielemans’s equaliser with a good overlapping run, but shaky at the back against Johan Manzambi and part of a defence that conceded four.
Leny Yoro – 4/10 Decent in the first half, but his bizarre header back towards his own goal set up Villa’s fourth.
Harry Maguire – 5/10 Solid enough in his 45 minutes and recovered well from the early chaos, but withdrawn at half-time.
Diogo Dalot – 2/10 Slow to close Alysson for the opener, poor in possession, then a reckless, needless tackle that conceded the penalty for 3-2 — and was booed off when substituted.
Kobbie Mainoo – 6/10 Strong in the tackle, won plenty of duels and plugged gaps in a wide-open game.
Youri Tielemans – 6/10 Scored a good goal against his former club to level it at 2-2 and was tidy on the ball, but faded in the second half and looked off the pace physically.
Amad Diallo – 5/10 Worked hard and was a threat down the right at times, but missed a gilt-edged first-half chance that could have changed the game.
Bruno Fernandes – 6/10 Scored the penalty that started the comeback and delivered the corner for Dorgu’s equaliser, but faded in the second half.
Matheus Cunha – 6/10 Lively throughout and won the penalty for the second game running, testing Suzuki more than once, but no goal this time.
Bryan Mbeumo – 4/10 The quietest of the attackers as the striker — on the fringes, struggled to get involved and offered little physical presence against Villa’s centre-backs.
Substitutes
Ayden Heaven – 5/10 Booked 11 minutes after coming on at half-time for a poor challenge, and involved in the build-up to Villa’s fourth — but steadier than he has been recently and got forward well.
Shea Lacey – 6/10 Tried to make things happen with neat footwork after coming on at 66 minutes.
Mason Mount – 5/10 Struck the woodwork but did not make the most of his chances after replacing Tielemans.
Patrick Dorgu – 8/10 Man of the match. On at 66 minutes for his first appearance since September, he set up Zirkzee’s goal and then headed home the 96th-minute equaliser.
Joshua Zirkzee – 7/10 Scored in the 92nd minute to spark the second comeback and caused Villa problems in his short spell.
Manager
Michael Carrick – 5/10 His team were 2-0 down inside four minutes and twice two goals down, and the defending was a shambles again — but the triple change on 66 minutes, Dorgu above all, rescued a point. Still no league win in eight and still 18th, so the pressure over the international break does not lift.
Aston Villa standouts
Alysson was Villa’s best player: scored after a minute, set up Jackson’s second, and tormented Dalot all game. Nicolas Jackson scored the second and was a constant problem for Yoro and Maguire. Captain John McGinn‘s penalty restored Villa’s lead at 3-2 and he drove them forward before being replaced on 71 minutes. Leon Goretzka scored Villa’s fourth and, with Boubacar Kamara, controlled the middle of the pitch for long spells. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made several good saves, notably from Cunha, but his error from Fernandes’s corner let Dorgu head in the equaliser. Villa led 4-2 in the 91st minute and still did not win — a collapse Emery will not forgive quickly.
What it means
A point rescued from nowhere — but United head into the international break in the relegation zone, eight league games without a win, and with the trip to Liverpool next. The comeback papers over nothing. Before the game we looked ahead in our Villa preview, and you can also read our Roma player ratings from the European comeback, or check the full fixture list for what comes next.
