Manchester United suffered their first league home Premier League defeat since the start of last season with an insipid performance against Brighton on Saturday.
Goals from Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross – remarkably his seventh against the Red Devils – and substitute Joao Pedro earned Albion a fully merited third successive victory against United. Despite a bright start, Erik ten Hag’s team lost 1-3, with the visitors scoring too easily and the manager’s removal of Rasmus Hojlund booed.
The defeat means United have now lost three matches this season and head into this week’s Champions League group game against Bayern Munich on the back of two losses. Home fans left Old Trafford early to cap a dismal week for the club, who saw Antony stay in Brazil after being accused of assault and Jadon Sancho banished from the first team.
It could have been more for Brighton with Ansu Fati and Kaoru Mitoma brilliantly denied by Andre Onana in the closing stages as our squad depth was amply demonstrated. United had started strongly and Jason Steele showed good reflexes to block Rashford’s angled effort, but Albion began to settle, and Tariq Lamptey dragged a shot well wide the deadlock was broken in the 20th minute with a well-worked goal.
Welbeck, with his back to goal, found Simon Adingra. He broke down the right, Lallana dummied his cross and Welbeck steered a low left-footed shot past Andre Onana from six yards. Welbeck had another sight of goal 12 minutes later when Mo Dahoud’s simple pass found him 25 yards out but his effort curled over.
Onana saved superbly from Ferguson and Fati in the closing stages and more than 3000 Albion fans lapped up the celebrations at the final whistle. This was some start to a standout week for the club which continues with a Europa League debut on Thursday.