Manchester United fought back for a barely-believable 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday after twice going two goals down at Old Trafford, but remain in the Premier League relegation zone.

Old Trafford witnessed an astonishing rollercoaster encounter as Michael Carrick's embattled, and deeply flawed, side showed spirit against the odds -- as they had against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday -- amid a backdrop of anger against the club's ownership.

Unai Emery's Villa looked set to pile the pressure on Carrick after going 2-0 up inside four minutes and 4-2 up after a similarly fast start to the second half, but United completed a remarkable comeback thanks to goals off the bench from Joshua Zirkzee and a 97th-minute leveler from Patrick Dorgu.

The result still means United go into the international break in 18th, and have won just one league game this season, back in August. Their eight-game winless league run means Carrick's position as boss may still not be safe despite the fightback.

United fell two goals behind -- in a club-record three minutes and 42 seconds -- as Alysson and Nicolas Jackson capitalised on wretched play. The mood that was already sour as supporters called for the Glazers and United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sell up, only worsened.

Green and yellow balloons also filled the air, fans displayed a banner that read "we don't want a new stadium, we want new owners," while furious chants went up a notch.

But a poorly-timed challenge from Boubacar Kamara on Matheus Cunha gifted United a penalty and captain Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot, just like in the 3-2 comeback win over Roma. Youri Tielemans then equalised against his former club just before halftime.

- As it happened: Man United 4-4 Aston Villa
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But renewed United hope was dented at the start of the second half, with John McGinn scoring a penalty gifted to Villa by Diogo Dalot -- whose substitution would be brutally cheered -- before Leon Goretzka added another.

They were the latest self-inflicted wounds in a season of gaffes by Carrick's side but the players fought until the death, with Zirkzee reducing the deficit in stoppage time before fellow substitute Dorgu sparked bedlam.

Dorgu rose to head home a Fernandes corner, with Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki's appeals he was upended trying to meet the cross ignored.

Under-fire Carrick left applauding fans chanting his name at the end of a crazy game.

Afterwards, Carrick told Sky: "We haven't won enough games, but I expect to move forward and keep working what we've been working on, tighten up on a few mistakes, and win football matches."

Information from ESPN Global Research and PA was used in this report.