For the second time this week, Manchester United looked to be down and out but produced a stunning comeback that might just keep Michael Carrick in a job. Maybe?
On Tuesday they went 2-0 down to Roma in the Champions League before dramatically winning 3-2. But the respite looked like it could be short lived when they quickly went two goals down to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Goals by Alysson and Nicolas Jackson inside the first four minutes meant it was the earliest United had ever been 2-0 down in the Premier League. One for the record books and not the kind that Carrick needed.
Nevertheless, United clawed their way back into the game to make it 2-2 with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans before the break. Was another come-from-behind win on its way?
No. United conceded another couple of goals within the first 10 minutes of the second half to be facing a two-goal deficit again.
And yet, somehow, they managed to emerge from the game with a point, coming back to secure a 4-4 draw.
Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu both scored in stoppage time to bring United back from the brink in even more dramatic fashion.
It was a bonkers game which has unsurprisingly churned out a few eye-catching facts and figures.
Most notably among them, this is the first time ever in Premier League history that a team has been behind by two goals and levelled the game twice.
Should Carrick keep his job, he may well look back at this week, with the spirit United have shown, as a turning point.
If not, he’ll have gone out as the maker of a piece of Premier League history.
The fact of the matter remains United have only won one of their first 10 games in the league this season. They go into the international break in the relegation zone. It was impressive, but it might not be enough.
Whatever happens from here, United’s latest comeback served as the latest reminder to expect the unexpected with this team.
For the first few games this season, they seriously underwhelmed. No doubt about it, they still are underwhelming, but they’re starting to do it in (almost?) entertaining fashion.
Last-gasp drama, unexpected comebacks, and is that a glimmer of fighting spirit there?
This season hasn’t been United’s first crisis in recent times. But it might just becoming a different kind of crisis. Who said we were running out of scripts?
What United do from here is anyone’s guess – on the pitch and off it.
They’re certainly keeping us on our toes.
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