There have been some complaints about a lack of entertainment in the Premier League as of late. An accusation that perhaps it has lost its selling point. Manchester United and Aston Villa took that script and tore it in half, never to be seen again, as they took a point apiece in stunning 4-4 fashion.
Michael Carrick's fate could be dragged on, whether he likes it or not, with a last-gasp point.
REUTERS/Jon Super
Unai Emery, meanwhile, will be left to mull over a game in which his side simply handed Man United a point from nothing. His words inside that dressing room may well have been bellowed loud enough to travel back to the Midlands.
How Aston Villa collapsed against struggling Man Utd
There are so often games of two halves but at Old Trafford, it was rinse and repeat between Man United and Aston Villa. It took the Villans just four minutes to find their first two goals, as Alysson and Nicolas Jackson punished a sorrowful side who must have believed they were in for their worst afternoon of the season yet.
That's when things turned, however. It was almost as if Villa were the ones in disbelief over their early comforts. In shock at how routine their day at Old Trafford was looking. Boubacar Kamara was certainly in cruise control when he swiped at Matheus Cunha's boot to allow the Red Devils back into the game.
Bruno Fernandes made no mistake on that front, finally ending his drought in front of goal. From there, Villa's disbelief only continued as Youri Tielemans came back to haunt them to level things up inside the first-half.
It's Emery who would have been more confused than anyone. The Spaniard could only tell his side one thing at the break and that was to remind themselves of their own quality. The fact is, whether or not Jamie Carragher agrees, Aston Villa are in a far better place than Man United at the moment.
man-utd-v-aston-villa-utd-ratings-3000x3000
It's why John McGinn's penalty to restore Villa's lead came as little shock and why Leon Goretzka's goal simply restored reality. But it's also why Aston Villa only have themselves to blame for losing a second two-goal lead when Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu netted two last-gasp, shock goals.
Emery still has problems to solve at new-look Aston Villa
Emery could only walk straight down the tunnel when Dorgu's header found the back of Zion Suzuki's net in the 96th minute - just four minutes after Zirkzee halved the deficit. Had the Spaniard remained inside his technical area, his death stare alone may have sliced Villa's backline in half.
It's a sobering reminder for the veteran manager that there's work to do in a new era at Villa Park. These weren't the kinds of results they would let slip as they became Europa League winners last season. But with a fresh batch of stars not quite yet mature enough to realise that three points matter over further goals, Emery still has problems to solve.
REUTERS/Jon Super
Going forward, the likes of Jackson looks like an upgrade. At the other end, though, Aston Villa have a backline which has conceded seven goals in two games.
That said, even on an evening that will feel like defeat, Villa will choose to take one particular positive.
Aston Villa have officially got best signing since Watkins
When Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins left in the summer, it looked like Aston Villa had an impossible job on their hands. With PSR constraints as relevant as ever, they had to commence their hunt for refreshed star power.
Jackson's arrival has since stolen plenty of headlines. He's rightly been in the spotlight and scored once again against Man United. But another player must start getting the same treatment.
Alongside Jackson, Alysson put Man United to the sword in sensational style.
REUTERS/Jon Super
The young Brazilian has already earned plenty of comparisons with Rogers and he is now looking like Villa's best signing since Watkins. He's so inventive, so creative, so direct and so full of life. This is an elite player in the making and he showed as much at Old Trafford with arguably his best performance for Villa.
||
Alysson vs Man Utd
Minutes
Goals
Shots
Recoveries
Penalties won
The 20-year-old was untouchable at times on Sunday, enjoying an involvement in two of Villa's four goals - scoring the first and winning the penalty for McGinn's third.
At such a young age, it's becoming clear that this is a star who is destined for the very top. For all the concern about replacing top stars in the summer, Villa have unearthed one of their best yet in Alysson.
Norway's Antonio Nusa in action with Portugal's Joao Palhinha
Norway's Antonio Nusa in action with Portugal's Joao Palhinha