Manchester United's season took another hit with a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford in the Premier League. The home loss on Sunday compounded the club's existing challenges, marking their 10th league defeat this season. Brighton capitalized swiftly, with Kaoru Mitoma breaking the deadlock within five minutes, setting up Yankuba Minteh for a simple finish after a well-placed long ball from Carlos Baleba. Despite United's efforts, the match highlighted underlying issues that have plagued the team this season.
Manchester United managed to draw level midway through the first half. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty after Brighton's goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen misplayed a pass, allowing Joshua Zirkzee to gain possession in the box. However, any respite was short-lived as further errors opened the door for Brighton to extend their lead. A critical mistake from United goalkeeper Andre Onana allowed Georginio Rutter to tap in Brighton's third goal, effectively sealing the match in favor of the visitors.
Brighton's performance at Old Trafford underscored their strong form against Manchester United, having now won six of their last seven league encounters and their last three visits to the iconic stadium. The victory propelled Brighton to ninth place with 34 points, closing in on the top four with just a four-point gap. Meanwhile, Manchester United finds themselves languishing in 13th place with 26 points from as many games.
The match was also marked by a poignant pre-game ceremony. Bagpipes led the teams onto the field in memory of club legend Denis Law, who passed away earlier in the week. Former manager Alex Ferguson laid a wreath at the center circle to honor Law's legacy.
This loss represents a significant setback for Manchester United and their new head coach Ruben Amorim, who has overseen seven defeats in 15 games. The result leaves their title hopes in jeopardy, as they now trail the top four by ten points. Conversely, Brighton's win underlines their upward trajectory, boosting their aspirations with a mere four-point gap from the coveted top positions.
