Man United vs Brighton score, result, highlights as Erik ten Hag under pressure after another defeat

Kyle Bonn

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Man United vs Brighton score, result, highlights as Erik ten Hag under pressure after another defeat image

Manchester United were expected to challenge for the Premier League title, but Erik ten Hag suddenly has a job to do on and off the field.

The Red Devils were undone at home yet again by Roberto de Zerbi and Brighton & Hove Albion, defeated by not just the visiting Seagulls but themselves as well.

Lisandro Martinez had a nightmare performance, and Man United were well beaten at their own fortress, with just two wins in their first five games of the Premier League season. Danny Welbeck had the early opener against the run of play, while Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro put the game away in the second half.

In truth, Man United were unlucky to be trailing 1-0 at halftime, as Marcus Rashford was electric through the opening 45 minutes and Rasmus Hojlund saw a debut goal for the club chalked off via VAR.

Yet needing a response after the break, the Red Devils were well beaten by Brighton, who stormed to victory with an emphatic second half. Only young Hannibal Mejbrj’s stunner gave Man United something to savor, but it wasn’t nearly enough for any tangible return from the match.

The Sporting News followed the Manchester United vs. Brighton match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

MORE: English Premier League table 2023/24: Updated EPL standings

Man United vs Brighton final score

  Score Goal scorers
Man United 1 Hannibal (73')
Brighton 3 Welbeck (20'),
Gross (53'),
J. Pedro (71')

Starting lineups:

Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Onana (GK) — 20. Dalot, 2. Lindelof, 6. L. Martinez (Wan-Bissaka, 85'), 15. Reguilon (Garnacho, 85') — 18. Casemiro (Mejbrj, 64'), 39. McTominay (Pellistri, 85') — 8. B. Fernandes, 14. Eriksen, 10. Rashford — 11. Hojlund (Martial, 64'). 

Brighton (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Steele (GK) — 2. Lamptey (Milner, 77'), 29. Van Hecke, 5. Dunk, 34. Veltman — 13. Gross, 8. Dahoud (Gilmour, 77') — 24. Adingra (Ferguson, 85'), 14. Lallana (Fati, 64'), 22. Mitoma — 18. Welbeck (J. Pedro, 64').

Man United vs Brighton live updates, highlights, and commentary

FULLTIME: Man United 1-3 Brighton

Manchester United were unlucky to be down at halftime after looking the better side through the first 45 minutes, but they were well beaten after the break, and Brighton deserved their 3-1 victory.

The second half was all Roberto De Zerbi, who picks up three more points to move third in the Premier League table, just three back of leaders Man City. United, meanwhile, are way back in 12th, having collected just six points thus far.

Between the off-field issues and the in-game struggles, Erik ten Hag has loads of work to do at Old Trafford. Is his job now under pressure?

Man United vs Brighton: Second Half

90+3 min: Chance, Brighton! It should be 4-1 but Andre Onana has saved extremely well from Ansu Fati! He was clean through on goal past Bruno Fernandes, but Onana gets down incredibly well to stop the chance low to the goalkeeper's left!

90+2 min: With six minutes of stoppage time shown, Hannibal is shown a yellow card for catching a Brighton forward on a counter.

87th min: Chance, Brighton! Evan Ferguson has forced another good stop from Andre Onana down low, as Brighton get on the ball on the break.

84th min: Erik ten Hag makes three more substitutions, with Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Pellistri, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka finally entering the pitch after a long wait on the touchline. Manchester United have gone to a 3-4-1-2 with the changes.

Brighton have 11 men behind the ball at this stage, comfortable with protecting their two-goal lead. Evan Ferguson comes off the bench for the Seagulls, but he'll have plenty of defending to do.

78th min: Chance, Brighton! Andre Onana saves a hit from Karou Mitoma! It's from a tight angle, ushered out wide by a pair of Man United defenders, but there's still work to be done by the goalkeeper who holds firm at his near post!

76th min: Chance, Man United! The game is exploding to live as Man United show some desperation, with Victor Lindelof heading over the crossbar.

Brighton make two changes as James Milner and Billy Gilmour enter the fray.

73rd min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! Hannibal Mejbrj has his first goal as a Manchester United senior player, and it's an absolute stunner from deep! The 20-year-old makes his mark on the match and gives the Red Devils a response, but there's still plenty of work to be done.

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71st min: GOAL! BRIGHTON! It's gone from bad to worse for the Red Devils as Joao Pedro puts Brighton three goals up! It's another ugly goal to concede, and far too simple for the visitors. A cross from the left comes to the Brighton substitute who's completely unmarked near the top of the penalty area, and his one-touch finish ends up beautifully past a diving Andre Onana!

Lisandro Martinez was in the way of the shot but leaned out of the way and let it through!

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Watch the Joao Pedro goal in Australia

69th min: There's a penalty shout for Man United as Marcus Rashford goes down on the very edge of the penalty area, but the referee Jarred Gillett waves play on! Rashford slams the pitch in frustration, either at the decision or the match itself, or both.

Replay shows there's absolutely nothing in that, as maybe only a tiny tiny sliver of contact wasn't remotely enough to send Rashford to the turf.

64th min: Just onto the pitch, Hannibal wins a dangerous free-kick centrally after being felled while reaching a 50/50 ball in the attacking third. Rashford produces a quality delivery on the set-piece, but it's into the waiting arms of Jason Steele.

64th min: Erik ten Hag is making his first changes of the game down 2-0. Anthony Martial will enter the pitch, while 20-year-old Tunisia international Hannibal Mejbrj also comes on. Rasmus Hojlund's debut is over, while Casemiro is also yanked. The Old Trafford crowd is not happy with the Danish international being withdrawn, but in truth, he's been invisible since the second half started.

Brighton counter by bring on Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati, the latter of whom makes his Brighton debut after signing on loan from Barcelona.

58th min: Manchester United earn a corner through a deflected Marcus Rashford shot, but it's wasted as the delivery is put into the side netting.

53rd min: GOAL! BRIGHTON! Pascal Gross carves the Man United defence apart like a holiday roast! He sends Lisandro Martinez's soul into the ethereal plane with his final touch, and then finishes cooly past Andre Onana who had absolutely no chance.

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51st min: Marcus Rashford, who remains the most prolific attacker of this match, gets on his horse down the left and elects to take it vertically, firing his shot into the side netting.

48th min: Marcus Rashford nearly recreates the exact same chance from the Rasmus Hojlund goal chalked off in the first half, but his cutback is unable to find a Red Devil attacker to finish it off. That's not far from being a carbon copy from their best opportunity of the first half.

Kickoff: Both teams will have changes to make at the break. Manchester United played well on the whole but were undone by one chance, while Brighton will wish to gain more of an influence on the match to keep hold of their advantage.

HALFTIME: Man United 0-1 Brighton

Manchester United were quality at moments through that first half, and in truth were probably the better side on the whole, but they trail thanks to Danny Welbeck's goal against the run of play.

Marcus Rashford was electric throughout the opening 45 minutes but has little to show for it. He created a pair of good chances for himself, and was the craftsman of the Rasmus Hojlund goal that was ultimately chalked off on VAR.

United have had two goals erased on review the last two weeks, with Hojlund's first United goal going into the bag alongside Alejandro Garnacho's would-be winner before the international break.

Man United vs Brighton: First Half

45+3 min: Rasmus Hojlund appears to be fouled while through on goal, but the offside flag is up to negate the opportunity.

Moments later Bruno Fernandes is booked for a bad foul from behind on Mahmoud Dahoud.

45+1 min: Chance, Man United! Marcus Rashford has missed a big chance! He dribbles down the left in his trademark fashion, cutting inside on his right to create space one-on-one. He's got lots of space to shoot, but he misses the target with a laser, crashing the ball high and wide of the top-right corner!

40th min: Chance, Man United! Old Trafford blows its top as Rasmus Hojlund is off the mark for the Red Devils!

Marcus Rashford has done ever so well to keep that chance alive as he was hemmed in on the end line and looked to be stuck, but he somehow dribbles around Jan Paul van Hecke, and cuts it back to Hojlund in front of goal. The ball somehow squeaks through to the Danish international, and his first touch takes him free of the defender for a cool finish.

BUT WAIT! There's a VAR check, and it appears the ball did indeed go out of play over the end line before Rashford made his delivery! The goal is CHALKED OFF on review! It's very tight but it does appear to be the right call, there is a sliver of green grass between the ball and the white line.

34th min: Chance, Man United! Marcus Rashford takes a stinging shot which takes a massive deflection, and the shot pings off the post!

It seems Rashford collided with Joel Veltman after the hit, and both men are down. Looks like Rashford was tripped and rolls his ankle, and goes falling into the back of Veltman's head. Thankfully, both are up and look to be ok, and Rashford goes to apologise to the Brighton defender.

32nd min: The groans of frustration ring around Old Trafford as Man United have completely lost their grip on this match. They could have remained on top after Brighton scored against the run of play, but instead Brighton have completely turned not only the scoreline around, but the flow of the match as well.

Danny Welbeck takes a shot from distance with Andre Onana off his line, but he can't hit the target from a long way out.

24th min: Jan Paul van Hecke is booked for kicking the ball away. You can't do that in this season's new emphasis on cutting down time wasting!

20th min: GOAL! BRIGHTON! They've had nothing in this game, but suddenly Brighton have struck and Man United are stunned!

Danny Welbeck is the culprit against his old club, and it's far too easy. A cross from Simon Adingra goes through the legs of Adam Lallana who produces a vicious dummy, and falls right to Welbeck who is completely unmarked at the far post. Erik ten Hag will be furious at conceding a goal of such a simple build!

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Watch Danny Welbeck goal in Canada | Watch in Australia

18th min: The game has slowed considerably, but the hosts remain in the ascendency. Brighton have almost nothing going forward, even though they've built themselves into nearly half the possession. Man United look the side far more likely to score as it stands.

9th min: Chance, Man United! Marcus Rashford this time creates for his strike partner, fed out wide left and delivering a cross along the face of goal which Rasmus Hojlund just barely can't reach. That was close! Old Trafford is buzzing early.

Moments later Hojlund does get to a chance, but he heads over the bar. It's electric from this new-look Manchester United side early!

5th min: Chance, Man United! Marcus Rashford is denied from a tight angle by Jason Steele! The England international clowns Joel Veltman with his dribbling wizardry, but his eventual shot is weak and doesn't have the window required to get past the goalkeeper at his near post.

Manchester United are playing a 4-4-2 diamond, with Bruno Fernandes at the tip of the midfield, Casemiro at the back, and McTominay partnering with Christian Eriksen centrally. Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund are the two at the top. That puts a big onus on the full-backs to provide width with no true wingers being deployed.

3rd min: Manchester United have the game's first spell of attacking possession, and they do well to bust through a physical Brighton defence, with Sergio Reguilon earning a corner, but it's wasted and Brighton look to counter until Diogo Dalot stops it with a tackle.

Dalot is then felled hard by a bad, studs-up tackle by Tariq Lamptey, who earns the game's first booking very early on. It's a nasty one and Dalot is very upset with the challenge.

Kickoff: The match at the Theatre of Dreams is under way! Prior to the opening whistle, the game began with a moment of silence for the disasters in Morocco and Libya.

The protests against the Glazer family continue, as they have for some time now. The Red Devils faithful remain steadfast in their desire to see an ownership change.

Man United vs Brighton: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

10 mins to kickoff: The appearance of Rasmus Hojlund in the starting lineup for Manchester United is a welcome sight amidst so much squad upheaval. Last year, Bruno Fernandes provided the most creative attacking flair in the Premier League, leading the English top flight in expected assists and key passes, but nobody on Man United could finish his chances, and Kevin de Bruyne led the league in actual assists by a significant margin.

Hojlund is the new man who hopes to get on the end of Bruno Fernandes chances. We've tipped Fernandes to provide a goal or assist tonight, and Hojlund is a big part of that.

30 mins to kickoff: The hosts aren't the only ones missing a host of key players. While the absence of Julio Enciso has been well documented thanks to his knee injury, fans will be surprised to see the team without Pervis Estupinan and Solly March today, while Evan Ferguson can only make the bench after picking up an injury on international duty. That's a number of really important pieces to this squad who are not to play a role today.

40 mins to kickoff: Manchester United are heavily laden with injuries and other squad concerns for this match. Sofyan Amrabat will have to wait to make his Manchester United debut after withdrawing from Morocco international duty with an injury, while Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane are still absent with injuries. Erik ten Hag has had to adjust accordingly.

When they do get Amrabat back though, he can fill in at a lot of different spots, which ten Hag will value greatly.

55 mins to kickoff: And this is how Brighton line up. Welbeck starts upfront for them as he returns to his former side. Ansu Fati starts on the bench.

1 hour to kickoff: Here's your line ups for this match then starting with the hosts. There's a home debut for new signing Rasmus Hojlund who starts up top, whilst Sergio Reguilón also makes his United debut at left back. 

1 hour 30 mins to kickoff: As mentioned before, given the fact that Brighton were the last team to win in the Premier League at Old Trafford, they'll fancy their chances of another victory today.

The Red Devils have now gone 20 matches at home in the competition unbeaten though and despite their recent woes both on and off the field, Old Trafford has become a bit of a fortress of late. 17 of those outings have finished in victory for United, whilst they've averaged 1.95 goals per game across that stint which could point towards more attacking output today. 

2 hours to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Manchester United vs. Brighton in the Premier League.

Man United vs Brighton lineups, team news

Erik ten Hag is still dealing with a lengthy injury list at Old Trafford with Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Raphael Varane amongst the absentees. With the list of players missing for the Red Devils, it would have been a chance for Kobbie Mainoo to make the bench but he too is out with a long-term injury.

Antony is unavailable due to a leave of absence from the club amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of domestic violence, which he denies, and Jadon Sancho is not expected to play. Sofyan Amrabat was thought to be available for his United debut but does not appear on the bench, while Rasmus Hojlund earns a first home start at Old Trafford.

Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Onana (GK) — Dalot, Lindelof, L. Martinez, Reguilon — McTominay, Casemiro — Fernandes, Eriksen, Rashford — Hojlund

Subs (9): Bayindir (GK), Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Gore, Mejbri, Garnacho, Pellistri, Martial. 

Bright young forward Julio Enciso remains out of action for Roberto De Zerbi's visitors, out for some time with a knee ligament tear.

Also not in the squad are Solly March and Pervis Estupinan with no immediate explanation given. It's possible that Estupinan has been rested after playing heavy minutes in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying over the international break.

A late call was made on Evan Ferguson after he was forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad with a knee injury, seeing him only fit enough for the bench.

Brighton starting lineup (4-2-3-1 right to left): Steele (GK) — Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Veltman — Gross, Dahoud — Adingra, Lallana, Mitoma — Welbeck.

Subs (9): Verbruggen (GK), Igor, Webster, Milner, Joao Pedro, Gilmour, Baleba, Ferguson, Fati. 

Man United vs Brighton live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA  — Peacock
Canada  —

Fubo Canada

UK  —  —
Australia  — Optus Sport
India  — Hotstar VIP,
JioTV
Hong Kong Now Premier League 1 (Ch.620-621) Now TV
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3 Astro Go, sooka
Singapore  — StarHub TV+
New Zealand  — Sky Sport NOW

UK: This match is not available for broadcast and streaming in the UK due to the Saturday 3 p.m. embargo.

USA: This game is available on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via Fubo in Canada, with discounts currently at more than 9% for annual plans and more than 20% for quarterly and monthly plans. 

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.