Manchester United trailed Aston Villa by two goals after just three minutes and 40 seconds, the earliest they had ever been 2-0 down in the Premier League
BySteve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist
When Manchester United and Aston Villa served up an eight-goal thriller at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, it was an instant Premier League classic.
While the match will not define either side’s season, it will be remembered for years to come.
In fact, it was only the 29th time in Premier League history both teams had scored four goals each in the same match.
It was not the first time United have been involved in a high-scoring Premier League encounter, either.
Last December, the Red Devils had to settle for a share of the points against Bournemouth after another game where eight goals were shared.
And in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match in charge of United in May 2013, they drew 5-5 with West Brom at The Hawthorns.
But where does Sunday’s match rank among the other remarkable matches we have witnessed down the years?
Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle (3 April 1996)
This result played a major factor in the outcome of the title race eventually won by Manchester United
Having blown a 10-point lead at the top of the table, Newcastle‘s title hopes suffered a major blow as they lost a classic in stoppage time at Anfield despite having led twice.
“Collymore closing in…”
Man City 3-2 QPR (13 May 2012)
Sergio Aguero’s late winner delivered the most dramatic end to a Premier League title race
In an extraordinary conclusion to the 2011-12 campaign, Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to beat Queens Park Rangers on the final day and win their first title in 44 years.
Sergio Aguero’s famous late winner ensured City pipped rivals Manchester United, who had already won that day, to the trophy on goal difference.
Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal (21 April 2009)
Andrey Arshavin enjoyed his finest night in an Arsenal shirt at Anfield
On another remarkable evening at Anfield, Arsenal‘s Andrey Arshavin produced a stunning individual display – netting all four goals for the Gunners to deliver a serious blow to Liverpool‘s title ambitions.
Man Utd 4-4 Aston Villa (8 November 2026)
Zirkzee’s goal was his first in the Premier League this season
Where do you even begin with this one?
United seemed dead and buried, not once but twice, as they trailed Europa League winners Aston Villa 2-0 and then 4-2 at Old Trafford.
But late strikes from substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and then Patrick Dorgu, deep into stoppage time, may have rescued not only a point, but Michael Carrick’s job as United manager.
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal (5 February 2011)
Cheick Tiote scored a sensational late equaliser for Newcastle
Arsenal were 4-0 up at and cruising at half-time as they looked to chase down league leaders Manchester United.
However, Abou Diaby was then sent off for the Gunners as Newcastle produced a stunning comeback to earn an improbable draw – with Cheick Tiote’s thumping 87th-minute strike clinching the point.
Newcastle 5-0 Man Utd (20 October 1996)
Philippe Albert (right) scored a superb chip to round off Newcastle’s 5-0 win
With Manchester United having beaten Newcastle to the title the previous season, this felt like payback for Kevin Keegan and his players, who had also suffered a 4-0 reverse to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at Wembley in the Charity Shield just weeks earlier.
Tottenham 3-5 Man Utd (29 September 2001)
David Beckham scored Manchester United’s fifth goal
Manchester United staged a magnificent comeback from 3-0 down at the break to overwhelm Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege all scored for the hosts but a transformed United hit back through Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham.
Man Utd 4-3 Man City (21 September 2009)
Michael Owen provided the decisive moment for the hosts late on
Michael Owen’s winner deep into stoppage time gave Manchester United a dramatic victory in a classic derby at Old Trafford.
The moment prompted Ferguson to set off on an impromptu wild dance along the touchline, while City boss Mark Hughes – whose side had come from behind three times – questioned why the game had gone on for six added minutes rather than the four allocated.
Leeds 4-3 Liverpool (4 November 2000)
Mark Viduka scored all four goals for Leeds
Liverpool had gone 2-0 up early on with goals from Sami Hyypia and Christian Ziege, but Mark Viduka scored either side of half-time to drag Leeds level.
Vladimir Smicer restored Liverpool‘s advantage, before two goals in three minutes from former Celtic forward Viduka secured an incredible win for the hosts.
Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool (5 May 2014)
Crystal Palace’s late show had huge implications in the title race
Title-chasing Liverpool had just lost to Chelsea at Anfield, but looked set to power themselves back into the race when they took a commanding 3-0 lead at Selhurst Park.
But they squandered that advantage in a chaotic final 11 minutes, leaving Luis Suarez in tears at the final whistle. Man City went on to win the league by two points.
Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd (9 November 1997)
This was another Arsenal v Manchester United match packed with incident
A tight pitch, a packed Highbury and another compelling contest between two of English football’s heavyweights.
The Gunners went two goals up courtesy of Nicolas Anelka and Patrick Vieira only for the champions to draw level thanks to two Teddy Sheringham efforts.
But in a season when Arsene Wenger’s side were to wrestle the title away from Manchester, David Platt scored the winner.
Arsenal 2-4 Man Utd (1 February 2005)
There were fireworks in the Highbury tunnel before play even got under way
Most people will remember this game because of the fiery exchange between captains Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane in the tunnel before the game, but the 90 minutes itself were just as thrilling.
Vieira opened the scoring for Arsenal before they were pegged back by an Ashley Cole own goal.
Another Gunners legend, Dennis Bergkamp, helped the hosts retake the lead before two goals from a young Cristiano Ronaldo and a delightful John O’Shea chip stunned Arsene Wenger’s side.
Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham (2 May 2016)
Chelsea supporters enjoyed dashing the title hopes of their London rivals Tottenham
A match that meant most for a side that wasn’t involved – the day that Leicester City were crowned champions will go down in footballing history.
Two first-half goals from Harry Kane and Heung-min Son gave Tottenham hope of chasing the Foxes down at the business end of the season.
But Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard scored to get Jamie Vardy and his Leicester team-mates’ party started as tempers flared in the second half of a match dubbed the ‘Battle of the Bridge’.
Man Utd v Bournemouth (15 December 2025)
Eli Junior Kroupi’s goal rounded off a thrilling evening at Old Trafford
Manchester United and Bournemouth played out at a Premier League classic at Old Trafford last season.
The hosts led three times and thought they had won the game when they scored twice in 129 seconds to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 advantage.
But Eli Junior Kroupi’s strike in the 84th minute pegged Ruben Amorim’s side back once again as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
A version of this article was first published in December 2025.
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