After the horrendous December schedule, Manchester United started 2025 showing a grit and determination in the first 3 outings of the year, drawing with Liverpool, beating Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup and Amad’s late recovery to beat Southampton. The game against Brighton gave United a chance to put aside the criticism that United are only showing up for the ‘big’ games, and can put in a shift against a team that on paper they should be able to beat.

The result however highlighted a revert to the mean of United’s season, as Brighton showed the change in feeling around clubs visiting Old Trafford being fearful, instead knowing full well they can claim morale boosting wins against a historically big club, and Brighton’s strong run of form continued. With Brighton almost mocking United with their showboating by the final whistle, this reality check for Amorim’s side will be hugely important as they still look to fight on in the cup competitions.

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Teams

Manchester United went with one of their strongest line-ups, with Zirkzee chosen to lead the line given Hojlund’s struggles this season. While that limits United’s options in the central role, the link-up with Fernandes and Amad is something Amorim could look to longer term, however the lack of central striker options could be something to address this summer. Additionally, Rashford remained out of the squad amid various reports over his future, while Malacia stayed on the bench despite reports of his imminent departure and Antony did get a surprising late cameo given that United are looking to loan out the Brazilian forward this month.

For Brighton, they showed their attacking strength as they could rotate the starting forwards during the game, bringing in the likes of Rutter, March and Enciso who all posses some attacking threat and perhaps highlights the gulf in options between squads. While Welbeck only played the 69 minutes of the victory, his return to Old Trafford once again highlighted how United may come to regret some of their transfer activities of the post-Ferguson era.

Manchester United: Onana, Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt, Dalot, Ugarte (Collyer 64′), Mainoo (Garnacho 64′), Mazraoui (Antony 84′), Fernances, Amad, Zirkzee (Hojlund 84′)

Subs: Bayindir, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen

Brighton & Hove Albion: Vebruggen, Estupinan (Lamptey 84′), Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Mitoma, Ayari, Baleba (Gomez 90′), Minteh (Rutter 69′), Welbeck (March 69′), Joao Pedro (Enciso 90′)

Subs: Steele, Webster, McConville, Adingra

Manchester United 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion

​Manchester United’s dismal season continued with a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on January 19, 2025. Yankuba Minteh opened the scoring for Brighton in the fifth minute, capitalizing on a swift counterattack. United responded with a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 23rd minute after Carlos Baleba fouled Joshua Zirkzee. However, Brighton regained control in the second half, with Kaoru Mitoma restoring their lead in the 60th minute and substitute Georginio Rutter sealing the victory in the 76th minute following a costly error by goalkeeper André Onana. ​

This loss marked United’s sixth home league defeat of the season, their worst start at Old Trafford since 1893-94. Manager Ruben Amorim, who has only secured two wins in his first ten Premier League games, described his team as “maybe the worst in the history of Manchester United.” The defeat leaves United in 13th place with 26 points from 22 matches, just ten points above the relegation zone. Brighton, on the other hand, climbed to ninth place, four points off the Champions League spots. ​

Brighton’s victory was their third consecutive Premier League win at Old Trafford, a feat previously achieved only by Manchester City. The Seagulls have now won six of their last seven league games against United. Post-match, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba celebrated with a ‘griddy’ dance in front of a dejected Fernandes, encapsulating the contrasting fortunes of the two sides. As United’s struggles deepen, questions mount over Amorim’s tenure and the club’s direction.​

Talking Points

The fallout from Manchester United’s 3-1 home defeat to Brighton was dominated by the explosive reaction of manager Ruben Amorim, who didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment. In a brutally honest interview, Amorim described his side as “maybe the worst in the history of Manchester United,” a damning indictment of both the performance and the trajectory of his tenure so far. With just two wins in his first ten Premier League games, the Portuguese manager appears increasingly disillusioned with his squad’s mentality and lack of cohesion, hinting at significant changes ahead if results don’t improve swiftly.

Tempers reportedly flared even more violently behind closed doors, with several outlets claiming Amorim smashed a television in the dressing room during a furious post-match debrief. While the club has yet to comment officially, sources close to the dressing room described a volatile atmosphere, with Amorim’s frustration boiling over in a rare loss of composure given the manager reportedly stays quiet post-game, allowing players to reflect before discussions take place the following day. The outburst underscores the pressure mounting on the manager as the club languishes in mid-table, facing serious scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike.

At the heart of United’s downfall once again was André Onana, whose error-strewn display raised further questions about his reliability between the posts. The Cameroonian was directly at fault for Brighton’s third goal, failing to deal with a routine back-pass before being dispossessed by Georginio Rutter. It was another damaging lapse in a season littered with inconsistencies, and with United’s defensive fragility already a concern, Onana’s form has become a glaring liability. His place in the starting XI may no longer be secure as Amorim searches for answers in a team increasingly defined by its self-inflicted wounds.