📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
The mounting turmoil at Manchester United mounted ever further on Saturday afternoon.
This came as a home meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion saw Erik ten Hag’s troops put to the sword by three goals to one, making it three defeats from five to start the campaign.
Visitors Brighton took the lead at Old Trafford inside 20 minutes, when Danny Welbeck returned to haunt his former employers courtesy of a straightforward finish from close range.
And it was two early in the 2nd-half, Pascal Gross latching onto Tariq Lamptey’s clever assist to leave Lisandro Martinez grounded, and rifle beyond Andre Onana:
This was Gross from Pascal pic.twitter.com/g5h2YWtTrf https://t.co/3nw8DRdQNW
— WelBeast (@WelBeast) September 16, 2023
The Brighton onslaught was not finished there, either, as Lamptey’s 2nd assist of the evening teed up substitute Joao Pedro to find the far top corner:
Goal! | Joao Pedro | Manchester United 0-3 Brighton
Manchester United are in disarray on their field!pic.twitter.com/PkrlesXzMZ
— FootColic ⚽️ (@FootColic) September 16, 2023
Man United did manage to pull one back minutes later through Hannibal Mejbri, but the damage had long been done on another hugely concerning afternoon for all associated with the Red Devils.
Player ratings
Manchester United
Diogo Dalot – 6
Victor Lindelof – 5.5
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Sergio Reguilon – 5.5
Casemiro – 5
Scott McTominay – 4.5
Bruno Fernandes – 6
Christian Eriksen – 5.5
Marcus Rashford – 5.5
Rasmus Hojlund – 5
Substitutes: Anthony Martial: 5.5, Hannibal Mejbri – 7, Alejandro Garnacho -N/A, Facundo Pellistri – N/A, Aaron Wan-Bissaka – N/A
Brighton & Hove Albion
Jason Steele – 5.5
Joel Veltman – 7
Jan Paul Van Hecke – 6
Lewis Dunk – 7
Tariq Lamptey – 8.5
Mahmoud Dahoud – 6
Pascal Gross – 8
Simon Adingra – 7.5
Adam Lallana – 6
Kaoru Mitoma – 5.5
Danny Welbeck – 7.5
Substitutes: Ansu Fati – 5.5, Joao Pedro – 7.5, Billy Gilmour – 5.5, James Milner – 5, Evan Ferguson – N/A
Fan reaction & key stats
3 – Manchester United have lost at least three of their opening five matches in a Premier League campaign for the first time. Unsettled. pic.twitter.com/v834b1Q0xN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 16, 2023
Manchester United vs Brighton highlightspic.twitter.com/rSQ51BAhSh
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) September 16, 2023
Onana can’t save a shot to save his life! BRIGHTON 3-0!
— Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) September 16, 2023
Did we dodge a bullet with Onana?
His shot stopping is horrific.
— Futbol Chelsea (@FutbolCheIsea) September 16, 2023
Lisandro “The Butcher” Martinez 💀 🤣 pic.twitter.com/A1gyUhIbE2
— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) September 16, 2023
Lisandro Martinez is the most overrated centre-back in the Premier league. So lucky he played in the deepest of deepest backlines last season. The moment he’s asked to defend in isolation, he gets horribly exposed time and time again.
— Sash ~ (@ltarsenal) September 16, 2023
Pascal Groß misplaced just two passes against Man Utd:
◎ 112 touches (most)
◉ 99 passes attempted (most)
◉ 97 passes completed (most)@harryedwards16: “Absolutely ran the show. Bossed the midfield in a stadium he is beginning to really love.” 😍 pic.twitter.com/iChEC0lMCc— Squawka (@Squawka) September 16, 2023
4 – Pascal Groß has scored four goals at Old Trafford in the Premier League, with only Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Salah scoring more goals there as a visiting player (5 each). Conduct. pic.twitter.com/Z8XQt38PdP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 16, 2023
Roberto De Zerbi became Brighton new head coach 364 days ago — not even one year. 🔵🇮🇹
Sensational work, top manager.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 16, 2023
Brighton’s starting XI against Manchester United includes:
Steele: £0
Dunk: £0
Dahoud: £0
Lallana: £0
Welbeck: £0
Veltman: £0.9m
Mitoma: £2.4m
Gross: £3.1m
Lamptey: £1.5m£7.9m for nine players.
They currently lead 1-0 at Old Trafford.
[@KieranMaguire] pic.twitter.com/t5dnjZMgUA
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 16, 2023
Bruno Fernandes appears to be playing RCB in Manchester United’s backline 👀
What is Erik ten Hag cooking? 😮 pic.twitter.com/Zgu0SMHu80
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 16, 2023
📊Tariq Lamptey vs Manchester United today:
🅰️2 assists
🎯36/42 passes completed (86%)
💪1/1 tackles won (100%)
😅3 recoveries
❌0 times dispossessedWhat a performance, he’s back! 🇬🇭💙#BHAFC pic.twitter.com/kELydEoQTt
— Owen (@owen_bhafc) September 16, 2023
Diogo Dalot’s game by numbers vs. Brighton:
84% pass accuracy
58 touches
31/37 passes completed
12 ball recoveries
10 ground duels won
6/6 tackles won
4/5 dribbles completed
1 key passAnother excellent performance. 🦾 pic.twitter.com/JVdQARF9ED
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 16, 2023
Hannibal in 33 minutes vs. Brighton:
100% pass accuracy
12 touches
6/6 passes completed
4 ground duels won
2 fouls won
1/1 dribble completed
1 goalMade a good impression. 💫 pic.twitter.com/9fPlyOpRYR
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 16, 2023
On a serious note, that was awful. Brighton have spent a fraction of what Man Utd have spent in the last five years. Yet there squad is five times better than ours. The depth at ST Brighton have alone sums up the situation. But if you have a Director of Football who is clueless…
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 16, 2023
Now is not the time to turn on Ten Hag. Van Gaal, Jose, Ole all went the same way and we always end up back here. All that frustration has to be channelled towards the ownership now no matter how bad it gets on the pitch. Otherwise we’ll be back here again in 3 years time.
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) September 16, 2023
Pep Guardiola responds to Gareth Southgate’s Phil Foden comments
