Man United match unwanted 73-year old Premier League record despite late Aston Villa comeback

Well that was quite an eventful afternoon at Old Trafford, wasn't it? ,ake out the first five minutes of both halves, and that would have been a blistering win for Manchester United. As it was, Michael Carrick's team became the first side in Premier League history to fall behind by two goals twice and then level twice in the same game.

When Aston Villa led 2-0 inside three and a half minutes, it looked like a total bloodbath. However, by the interval, the Red Devils were inexplicably level; Bruno Fernandes converting a spot-kick, before Youri Tielemans slotted home against his former side.

Then, déjà vu. Within eight minutes of the restart, Villa had scored twice again, at which point Man United surely could not come back again, could they?

Well, it remained 4-2 until injury time, when Joshua Zirkzee gave the hosts hope before, against all odds, fellow substitute Patrick Dorgu headed home right at the last, after Zion Suzuki flapped at a cross.

Just days after the Red Devils' remarkable comeback against Roma, they pulled off an even more unlikely one here. Despite this, ahead of an international break, Man United will now spend more than a fortnight in the relegation zone for the first time in over four decades. That, though, is not the most shocking statistic to arise after full time.

So far in the Premier League, Man United have still only managed to beat Ipswich, currently eight games without a victory. Thus, they are the first side to win only one of their first ten matches, having finished in the top three during the previous campaign, since Arsenal all the way back in 1953/54.

Back then, as defending champions, Tom Whittaker's team finished all the way down in 12th, a position some Man United fans might settle for right now. So, what comes next?

Are these rousing comebacks against Roma and Aston Villa enough to keep Carrick in a job? When Bournemouth cruised to victory at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, it felt like the end, with Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox, and others purportedly debating which replacement to pursue.

Given that we are now entering the final international break until March, now seems to be a sensible time to make a change that feels inevitable; Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte among the lead candidates.

Whoever may be in charge, Man United's next match is certainly a big one, taking on Liverpool at Anfield. After that, it is Sporting CP away, Brentford at home and Newcastle away, so things are unlikely to get much easier, whether it be Carrick or someone else on the touchline.