MANCHESTER, England — Following Manchester United’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, the lack of surprise among fans and observers was palpable. The underwhelming performance against Southampton in their previous match had already set a worrying tone, making Brighton’s victory at Old Trafford not entirely unexpected.
Despite managing to stage a comeback against Southampton and secure a 3-1 win, the same resilience was not on display against Brighton. In fact, Brighton’s comfortable win could have been even more decisive, with the visitors scoring three goals, having another disallowed through VAR, and squandering chances towards the end of the game.
Manager Ruben Amorim has shouldered much of the responsibility for United’s poor run of results, but the underlying issues run deeper than just managerial decisions. Brighton’s recent track record of success at Old Trafford underscores ongoing struggles within the team that go beyond any single individual at the helm.
“We have to acknowledge the moment and not go around the problem,” said Amorim in the aftermath of the defeat. “Everybody here is underperforming, and we have to accept that. It’s unacceptable to lose so many games.”
What makes the defeat even more damning for United is the fact that Brighton, who had only won one of their previous nine league games, did not need to produce an extraordinary performance to claim victory. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged his team’s mature performance, highlighting their control of the game and confidence on the pitch.
Despite United boasting home advantage, Brighton managed to score three goals with just three shots on target, capitalizing on mistakes like goalkeeper André Onana’s error that led to their third goal. United, on the other hand, struggled to create opportunities and register only one shot on target throughout the game.
The defeat against Brighton marked United’s sixth home Premier League loss of the season and raised concerns about their form and consistency. Amorim’s record as manager, with seven losses in his first 15 games, is under scrutiny as United find themselves in 13th place in the table, closer to the relegation zone than they would like to be.
Looking ahead, United face a challenging run of fixtures against teams in the bottom half of the table, where dropping points could compound their current struggles. While United have shown flashes of quality against top teams, their performances against lower-ranked opposition have been lackluster, creating uncertainty about their ability to climb the table.
Before the match, United honored club legend Denis Law, underscoring the stark contrast between the current team’s struggles and the historic triumphs of their past. Amorim’s candid acknowledgment of the team’s poor form as possibly the worst in the history of Manchester United exemplifies the gravity of the situation.
As United focus on survival in the Premier League, the road ahead appears challenging, with a pressing need to address underlying issues and improve performances to avoid being dragged further into a relegation battle. Amorim’s task of steering the team through troubled waters demands a collective effort to turn the tide and restore confidence at Old Trafford.
