Brilliant Brighton secured a well-known 3-1 win at Manchester United as issues went from dangerous to worse for Erik ten Hag’s aspect after a challenge-filled fortnight.
Jadon Sancho has been banished from the first-team squad and Antony given a depart of absence following assault allegations towards him because the galling, last-gasp loss at Arsenal.
Brighton heaped additional distress on United as consideration returned to on-field issues on Saturday afternoon, with Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro scoring earlier than Hannibal Mejbri’s comfort effort.
The complete finish of the Red Devils’ 31-game unbeaten dwelling run in all competitions got here towards the aspect that final beat them within the league at Old Trafford in Ten Hag’s first match in cost.
Welbeck opened the scoring towards his former membership, earlier than a Marcus Rashford strike hit the woodwork and Rasmus Hojlund’s first purpose for the membership was dominated out by the VAR.
Gross netted each objectives in final season’s Old Trafford win and fired Roberto De Zerbi’s males additional forward early within the second half, earlier than substitute Pedro landed one other physique blow.
Boos greeted Ten Hag’s choice to carry Anthony Martial on for full debutant Hojlund, however fellow introduction Hannibal did his bit when putting dwelling his first for the membership from distance.
But there was to be no stirring comeback like in United’s final dwelling recreation towards Nottingham Forest as consideration now turns to Wednesday’s Champions League conflict at Bayern Munich.
Brighton have a historic Europa League match towards AEK Athens to look ahead to themselves after profitable at Old Trafford for simply the second time of their historical past.
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De Zerbi surprisingly made six adjustments on Saturday, when Ten Hag made three and plumped for a midfield diamond that prompted the guests early issues.
Rashford’s ability and perseverance ended with a low drive being saved by Jason Steele and Hojlund headed over, earlier than practically combining when the brand new boy stretched for the homegrown star’s cross.
But De Zerbi’s aspect regarded unruffled and took a Twentieth-minute lead on the finish of a well-worked transfer.
Welbeck burst in direction of the field having performed huge to Simon Adingra, whose low ball from the precise was neatly left by Adam Lallana for the 32-year-old to smash dwelling.
The opener gave Brighton followers an additional pep within the step and the goalscorer tried his luck from distance, with United providing little in response till the thirty fourth minute.
Casemiro swept the ball out to Rashford on the left, with the ahead darting inside and getting away a drive that Joel Veltman turned onto the woodwork with an unorthodox block.
United bounced again from that close to miss and celebrated an equaliser 5 minutes earlier than the break.
Rashford adopted stepovers by darting to the byline and pulling again for Hojlund, who turned and prodded in what gave the impression to be his first United purpose.
But with play able to resume at 1-1, referee Jarred Gillett was knowledgeable by VAR Chris Kavanagh that the ball had gone out of play earlier than Rashford may get the cross away.
The England worldwide continued to look harmful and went shut in stoppage time, then struck into the side-netting when the second half received below means.
But Brighton have been nonetheless pursuing a second and their warning pictures throughout the bows went unheeded.
Gross ran onto a cross by Tariq Lamptey simply contained in the field, despatched Lisandro Martinez flying with a drop of the shoulder and fizzed previous Andre Onana in entrance of the away followers.
The 53rd-minute effort left United reeling and Ten Hag turned to his bench, however the choice to interchange Hojlund with Martial was audibly unpopular.
Rashford noticed a free-kick stopped because the hosts desperately regarded to claw a purpose again, solely to be hit by a Brighton third within the 71st minute.
Lamptey raced down the left and in the reduction of for substitute Pedro, who opened his physique to hit a first-time, right-footed shot that Onana couldn’t cease discovering the web.
Punch-drunk United managed to drag one again instantly via teenager Hannibal, who lasered an effort previous Steele from 25 yards two minutes later.
Victor Lindelof headed over however clever Brighton have been capable of take the sting out of proceedings, exposing gaps left by the determined hosts.
Kaoru Mitoma, substitute Evan Ferguson and debutant Ansu Fati noticed pictures saved because the clock wound down. Onana stopped the latter once more in stoppage time.
