Manchester United fell back in the league against Brighton (3-1) on Sunday at Old Trafford, a first defeat in three matches which leaves Ruben Amorim’s team in thirteenth place after 22 days.
THE « Red Devils » remained in the league with an encouraging draw at leader Liverpool (2-2) and a victory against last-placed Southampton (3-1) acquired with a late hat-trick from Amad Diallo.
But this recovery, carried out after three successive defeats, was shattered on Sunday at Old Trafford, where the « Red Devils » still showed too many gaps, in defense and midfield.
A long ball from Carlos Baleba surprised the back line and in particular Noussair Mazraoui, and Kaoru Mitoma recovered the leather and offered a caviar in the axis for Yankuba Minteh (5th, 1-0).
Brighton put their host back in the game with a risky restart from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and a foul from Baleba in the area, which allowed Bruno Fernandes to equalize from the penalty spot (23rd, 1-1).
But the defects of « Red Devils » showed themselves in a big way during a second period where they sank.
-The VAR first saved them on a goal from Joao Pedro (53rd) by detecting a prior hand from a partner.
But there was nothing illegal in that of Mitoma (60th, 2-1), more aggressive than Mazraoui at the far post, at the end of an action where the Manchester midfielder was pierced and where André Onana hesitated to go out.
The Cameroonian goalkeeper, regular savior of his team, committed an incredible hand error on a harmless cross and the French striker Georgino Rutter took advantage of it (76th, 3-1).
Since Amorim’s arrival at the end of November, Manchester United have conceded almost two goals per game, in all competitions.
Brighton returns to the first half of the table (9th, 34 pts), one point behind Manchester City who fell to eighth place before their trip to Ipswich on Sunday.
