Manchester United’s wait for their first consecutive Premier League wins of the season will have to wait at least two more match days after Brighton produced a 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Red Devils and Seagulls engaged in a tight first half as a Bruno Fernandes penalty answered Kaoru Mitoma’s assist of Yankuba Minteh’s fifth-minute opener.
WATCH – Manchester United v Brighton
But Minteh returned the favor to Mitoma just after the hour mark and Georginio Rutter potted an Andre Onana gaffe to give Brighton a third-straight PL win at Old Trafford — a first, for sure.
Brighton move into ninth with 34 points, while United remain 13th with 26 points.
Both teams honored Man United legend Denis Law before the game following the 84-year-old passing on Friday.
Hurzeler’s bold ‘no fear’ set-up embarrassing for Man United
This is Old Trafford, the so-called ‘Theater of Dreams’ which has played host to hundreds of entertaining multi-goal displays from Manchester United. Yet Brighton & Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler clearly had no fear of the Red Devils out-scoring his men on Sunday, as he deployed a host of attackers with a confidence that Ruben Amorim’s attackers would not feast much at home. Take away a half-dozen first-half minutes prior to Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and this game was almost all Brighton. Man United didn’t really muster sustained pressure until just before Brighton found its third goal, and much of that happened because the Seagulls dropped off to deal with an increasingly-attack minded Man United team with Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, and Toby Collyer replacing Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee. It took Carlos Baleba’s clothesline of Zirkzee to get United on the penalty spot, and Amad Diallo was the only consistent threat aside from a couple of decent Bruno Fernandes moments. Teams might think they’ll be challenged by Man United at Old Trafford, but they don’t fear the attack. That’s wild and sad.
Manchester United vs Brighton player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Brighton player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Brighton player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Manchester United welcome Rangers to Old Trafford for a 3pm ET Thursday affair in the Europa League, then go to Fulham for a 2pm Sunday kickoff in the Premier League.
Brighton host Everton at 10am Saturday,
How to watch Manchester United vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester United vs Brighton final score: 1-3
Yankuba Minteh 5', Bruno Fernandes pen 23', Kaoru Mitoma 61', Georginio Rutter 76'
Manchester United vs Brighton live updates
Full time — Manchester United 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Man Utd subs
Rasmus Hojlund and Antony join the fray in place of Zirkzee and Mazraoui. 84th minute.
Andre Onana howler! Georginio Rutter goal — Man Utd 1-3 Brighton (76th minute)
What’s he doing?
Andre Onana can catch a low swung cross and Georginio Rutter touches around the Man United keeper and center back De Ligt to make it 3-1.
Bonus points for Solly March’s cute first-touch pass to set up the cross.
Brighton subs
Solly March and Georginio Rutter enter for Minteh and Welbeck. 70th minute.
Man Utd subs
Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte exit for Toby Collyer and Alejandro Garnacho, as Amorim seeks an equalizer down 2-1 in he 65th minute.
Kaoru Mitoma goal — Manchester United 1-2 Brighton (61st minute)
This one will count!
Yankuba Minteh chips a beautiful pass from the near post to the back, where a sliding Mitoma beats Mazraoui to the ball and a collision with said post.
Joao Pedro goal overturned by VAR
It’s chaos off a Yasin Ayari free kick routine, and Joao Pedro comes down with the ball after it takes a bounce off of Zirkzee.
He finishes through Pedro, but there’s a VAR review for a foul.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s kick on the ball caught the bottom of Diogo Dalot’s foot, and the goal is chalked off after review on the pitchside monitor.
Red Devils start second half well
De Ligt picks out Diallo with a long ball and the in-form right-sided attacker snaps off a shot that is blocked by the Seagulls.
Halftime — Manchester United 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Pretty even.
United were superior from the Brighton goal until the final few minutes, when Brighton seized the ball.
Shots are 4-3 to the hosts, who have produced 0.98 xG to Brighton’s 0.78.
The Seagulls are at 52% possession.
It’s all there for both.
Hosts defending improves
Brighton have had their fair share of the ball, a little under 50%, but United have not given up a second chance anywhere near as shocking as the goal.
Shots 4-1 to the hosts, with Fernandes very much pulling the strings.
Man Utd penalty, Bruno Fernandes goal! Manchester United 1-1 Brighton (23rd minute)
Two shouts in two minutes, and the second is nailed-on.
Carlos Baleba clobbers Joshua Zirkzee and gets a yellow for his efforts.
Bruno rolls home the pen. 1-1.
Bruno Fernandes slices wide
Man United having a moment or two in possession, and the best danger comes to Bruno Fernandes to the right of the penalty spot.
The captain’s shot is wayward of the near post.
Still 1-0 to Brighton, 20'.
Yankuba Minteh goal — Man United 0-1 Brighton (5th minute)
Way too easy.
Kaoru Mitoma peels back his run and stays onside to meet a long ball over the top.
The Japan international drives the left side and cuts a low pass onto the path of Yankuba Minteh.
Waaaaay too easy. Ruben Amorim will be furious.
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro, Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, Diallo, Fernandes, Zirkzee
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan, Baleba, Ayari, Minteh, Mitoma, Pedro, Welbeck
Manchester United vs Brighton preview
The Seagulls, oddly enough, were the second win of that last United mini-hot streak, 2-0 losers to the Red Devils at the Amex Stadium last May.
Brighton can also make it back-to-back wins and also build a six-match unbeaten run by beating the Red Devils. The Seagulls went to Ipswich Town at midweek and won 2-0, moving into ninth place on the PL table.
Man United used a late, rapid-fire hat trick from Amad Diallo to beat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday. Amorim’s side sit 12th with 26 points, still four off the top half.
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Mason Mount (thigh), Luke Shaw (foot), Victor Lindelof (unspecified), Jonny Evans (muscular)
Brighton team news, focus
OUT: Brajan Gruda (knock), Igor Julio (hamstring, James Milner (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Mats Wieffer (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Evan Ferguson (ankle), Jack Hinshelwood (knee), Diego Gomez (fitness)
Manchester United vs Brighton prediction
Brighton’s performance at Ipswich wasn’t terribly inspiring but a win is a win and Fabian Hurzeler took those three points with some players returning to the lineup. United were very much good enough to beat the Saints, but can they rise to this challenge at Old Trafford? Just. Man United 2-1 Brighton.
