Manchester United's 31-game unbeaten run at home came to an end on Saturday when Brighton hammered them 3-1, adding to the mountain of issues at Old Trafford.
Danny Welbeck came back to haunt the Red Devils for the fifth time by breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes which United had dominated thanks to their new formation employed by Erik ten Hag. After an elegant 29-pass move, Pascal Gross - another frequent Old Trafford tormentor - doubled Brighton's lead in the second half before Seagulls substitute Joao Pedro smashed home a sublime third prior to Hannibal Mejbri scoring a sensational late consolation goal.
The Red Devils were aiming for a response to their bruising 3-1 defeat away to Arsenal a fortnight ago, with an array of problems off the pitch dampening the mood at Old Trafford. Acclaimed Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi could only start recent hat-trick hero Evan Ferguson on the bench due to injury and was without the ever reliable Solly March, while United's turbulent international break saw Jadon Sancho and Antony both axed from the first-team.
Here are seven talking points from Old Trafford.
1. Ten Hag's tweakFor virtually all of Erik ten Hag's previous 66 games in charge of Manchester United, the Red Devils have lined up a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Dutchman's preferred shape. But that changed when Brighton came to town, as Ten Hag felt the need for an alternation after losing both Premier League games against the Seagulls last season and needing penalties to beat them in the FA Cup semi-final.
The Red Devils boss chose to employ a midfield diamond which he suggested pre-match that he'd planned to play at Arsenal two weeks ago before Scott McTominay pulled out. The Scotland international was available for this one, though, allowing Casemiro to act as the lone sitting midfielder, with Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes more advanced like McTominay.
Ten Hag's change of shape immediately threw Brighton off, with United full-backs Diogo Dalot and Sergio Reguilon given more space to run into down the flanks, and Marcus Rashford causing problems in the penalty area alongside Rasmus Hojlind. The latter nearly broke the deadlock after just nine minutes, sliding in a fraction too late to connect with Rashford's low cross.
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Michael Regan/Getty Images)Not many if any former Manchester United players have managed to score five goals against the Red Devils after leaving Old Trafford, but Danny Welbeck has a knack for it. The Mancunian striker, sold by Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2014, memorably scored on his first return to Old Trafford as an Arsenal player and has since done it three times for Brighton.
Welbeck's latest dagger was too easy from United's perspective, having got off to an impressive start. The 32-year-old started the move in midfield, putting the Red Devils on the back foot, and eventually offloaded the ball to winger Simon Adingra. Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana then smartly jumped over Adingra's cross and allowed Welbeck to score a tap-in.
On top of watching their academy product wheel away in celebration, it was a case of deja vu for United fans in another respect. In their last home fixture, the Red Devils conceded early against Nottingham Forest before producing a comeback win. At least they weren't 2-0 down, though... yet.
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Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)With five minutes to go until half-time, United were in need of some predatory instinct to make their possession in Brighton's half count. Step forward, Hojlund. The £72million man, recruited to be the poacher who the Red Devils so often lack, lurked at far post while Rashford skinned Jan Paul van Hecke twice and couldn't miss once the ball fell his way.
Unfortunately for Hojlund, VAR deemed that the ball had gone out before Rashford's delivery, meaning that the Dane's home debut goal was ruled out. Brighton, typically cool on the ball, then saw the half out and looked on course to become the first side to win at Old Trafford since... themselves on the opening day last season. A hum of boos rang out as the half-time whistle sounded.
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Lewis Storey/Getty Images)As if Old Trafford hadn't endured enough deja vu when Welbeck broke the deadlock, Pascal Gross continued his excellent record by scoring against United once again. After his brace in the aforementioned season opener in August 2022, the German midfielder struck again to punish more shoddy Red Devils defending.
Sustaining possession in United's final third, Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey combined on the left-hand side as Gross roamed into the box. After the former 32-year-old allowed the ball to come across his body after Lamptey's pass, Red Devils centre-back Lisandro Martinez slid in and completely missed his attempt to win back possession, freeing up Gross for a shot at goal which flew past the outstretched Andre Onana along the ground and nestled into the bottom corner.
Now United were truly faced with the prospect of defeat at Old Trafford for the first time in over a year.
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Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)Aside from improving results and stamping his authority on what was previously considered a disastrous dressing room, one major positive of Ten Hag's reign has been the reforged connection between team and fans. The Dutch boss has been backed in almost every decision by supporters, but when he subbed off Hojlund for Anthony Martial, some inside Old Trafford strongly disagreed.
Major boos rang out as the Danish wonderkid ran off to be replaced by the out-of-sorts Martial, while Casemiro was also taken off for youngster Hannibal Mejbri. The Brazilian had once again looked tired in the second half, having played 180 minutes for Brazil during the international break.
Have your say! Where will Manchester United finish this season? Let us know your prediction in the comments section.
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Michael Regan/Getty Images)After Joao Pedro came off the bench to make it 3-0 with a spectacular finish which silenced Old Trafford, Mejbri quickly produced some magic of his own to make the closing stages a contest. The Tunisia international gave the Red Devils a lifeline and snapped Old Trafford back into action, as the crowd got right behind United's players.
Mejbri took aim from well outside the penalty area and his right-footed shot railed past Jason Steele in front of the Stretford End. But Steele and co held firm in the dying embers, earning a memorable three points and piling the misery onto United.
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TNT SportsBrighton have now won their last four Premier League games against Manchester United and can safely say that they've got the Red Devils' number following a string of superb performances home and away. Ten Hag still can't best De Zerbi tactically and won't take much solace in April's shootout victory at Wembley, as his side were fortunate to avoid losing over 120 minutes.
Next up for United is the small matter of a trip to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League, where fans might be more looking forward to enjoying the local Oktoberfest celebrations. For Brighton, the Europa League calls, hosting AEK Athens.
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