Having beaten Fulham 1-0 in their first league encounter, Manchester United took a trip to the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion who came into this game with a 3-0 thumping of Everton behind them. Fabian Hurzeler’s side played some scintillating football against the Toffees.
Here is how we predicted Man Utd to line up against the Seagulls. However, Erik ten Hag decided to go with an unchanged XI from the win against Fulham, keeping faith in the players who got him the result. This meant that Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee had to make do with spots on the bench.
The game started off as expected with Man Utd and Brighton looking to attack at every opportunity they got. Some of the Red Devils’ attacking patterns were a joy to watch but it was the Seagulls who struck first through Welbeck. United had chances to equalise but Brighton went into the half-time break with a slender lead.
The second half had a similar outlook to it like the first 45 with both teams playing an expansive, open game. Despite being on the ropes in the opening exchanges, Man Utd equalised through Amad Diallo and then thought they had taken the lead but was ruled out for offside. Both teams knocked down the door and Brighton came away with the three points on the night.
Manchester United players ratings vs Fulham
GK | Andre Onana (6/10): Could have done nothing about Welbeck’s goal. Saved by Diogo Dalot from conceding his second goal of the night. Risky challenge in his own box that he got away with (just). Distribution was solid. Let down by his defence for Joao Pedro’s goal.
RB | Noussair Mazraoui (7/10): Should have stopped Mitoma’s cross for Welbeck’s goal. Not a first 45 to write about. Got his first assist in a Man Utd jersey for Diallo’s goal. Better second half than the first one.
CB | Harry Maguire (6/10): Caught ball watching for Brighton’s goal. Disastrous from the ex-captain in the first half. Looked more composed in the second half. Good defensive actions. Taken off for De Ligt.
CB | Lisandro Martinez (6.5/10): Andre Onana’s
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constant outlet to play out of the back. So composed in possession. Did not put a foot wrong throughout the game. Mentality monster. Nowhere to be seen during Joao Pedro’s goal.
LB | Diogo Dalot (7/10): What a cross that was, to Diallo! Marshalled Minteh expertly. Excellent goal-line clearance early in the second half. Solid game from Dalot. Where was he during Joao Pedro’s goal?
CDM | Casemiro (6/10): Kept things ticking, moved the ball well and got his challenges right. The end-to-end nature of the second half meant the game needed someone like him to grab it by the scruff of the neck but he failed to do so.
CDM | Kobbie Mainoo (6/10): Quiet first half from the youngster considering what we’ve gotten accustomed to seeing from him. Not his best game in a Man Utd shirt. Got booked too.
LW | Marcus Rashford (4/10): Almost comical yet instant response for Brighton’s goal but got flagged offside. Looked lethargic on and off the ball in the first 45. Basic lack of attacking awareness from the United #10. Taken off for Alejandro Garnacho after another poor performance.
CAM | Mason Mount (7/10): Tested Steele with a good shot. One of Man Utd’s better players in the first half. Looked good on and off the ball. Pressed his heart out. Surprisingly taken off at half-time. One wonders if there was a knock involved.
RW | Amad Diallo (7.5/10): Immense show of faith from the manager after a disappointing performance against Fulham. Excellent chance squandered early on. Yet another first half to forget for the Ivorian winger who almost always made the wrong decision on the ball. Much more impressive in the second half. Scored a brilliant goal despite the deflection. Says a lot that Ten Hag took Rashford off and not him for Garnacho. What a turnaround! Was booked for a late challenge, taking away some sheen from the second-half display. Taken off for Amad Diallo.
ST | Bruno Fernandes CAPTAIN (6/10): Surprisingly anonymous first half from the captain. Just 35 touches in the first half. Dropped back into a familiar #10 role in the second half. Much more meaningfully involved in the second half. Thought he
had teed up Garnacho but the goal was ruled out. Taken off for Scott McTominay.
Substitutes:
Joshua Zirkzee <=> Mason Mount (6/10): Given 45+ minutes to make an impression today. Loves to drift around the forward line and link up play. Unfortunate contact on the ball prevented United from getting their second goal. Drifted out of the game eventually. Failed to track back during Joao Pedro’s goal.
Alejandro Garnacho <=> Marcus Rashford (7/10): Such a brilliantly worked goal from the youngster was ruled out for an unfortunate offside. Typical Garnacho energy after coming on. Could have been more decisive in the final third.
Matthijs de Ligt <=> Harry Maguire (N/A): Handed a run out by Ten Hag for the final 10+ minutes. Looked switched on defensively.
Scott McTominay <=> Bruno Fernandes (N/A): Brought on for fresh legs in midfield in what might be his last game in a Man Utd jersey.
Antony <=> Amad Diallo (N/A): Brought on for the dying stages. Almost created a goal seconds after coming on.
What about Erik ten Hag?
Ten Hag literally said, ‘If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’. He named the same line-up that got him a positive result against Fulham. It was a show of confidence from the manager in the players who played the game against the Cottagers. Set his team up to play a forward-thinking brand of football in the first half but Brighton took their chances better.
Changed things up by bringing on Zirkzee for Mount at half-time. His persistence with Amad Diallo paid off as the Ivorian winger helped Man Utd equalise around the hour mark. Made similar substitutions to the last game and almost in the same order too. Surprising to see Bruno taken off when they needed a goal. First loss of the season with many questions defensively. 6/10
