The Reds were trailing at the break, thanks to goals from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker, and the chances of United securing three points at Old Trafford seemed slim.
However, a dominant performance in a vibrant Theatre of Dreams ensured that Erik ten Hag's team flipped the script and triumphed 3-2.
Immediately after the restart, United were on the front foot and the pace of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford caused the Villa defence all sorts of problems.
Rashford broke in behind and laid the ball to our no.17 to finish, but the referee ruled it out for offside.