After a comfortable win over Sunderland before the international break and their hugely morale boosting victory over rivals Liverpool last weekend, Manchester United went into the game against Brighton feeling confident and on the up. While fans are still reluctant to believe what could be possible this season, there is a growing sense of confidence from the side. Despite this growing belief, the clash against a bogey side in Brighton proved to be arguably a bigger challenge than the two previous games, a chance to win 3 on the spin, and show that it’s more than just luck or a moment of good form.

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Teams

Manchester United: Lammens, Shaw (Heaven 65′), De Ligt, Yoro, Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro (Mainoo 70′), Amad (Dorgu 70′), Cunha (Ugarte 81′), Mbeumo, Sesko (Zirkzee 82′)

Subs: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Malacia, Mount

Brighton: Verbruggen, De Cuyper (Milner 59′), Dunk, Van Hecke, Wieffer (Tzimas 87′), Ayari (Gomez 60′), Baleba (Watson 59′), Minteh, Rutter (Kostoulas 79′), Kadioglu, Welbeck

Subs: Steele, Coppola, Boscagli, Oriola

Manchester United 4-2 Brighton

Manchester United produced one of their most vibrant attacking displays of the season to defeat Brighton 4–2 at Old Trafford, a result that both thrilled and exasperated home supporters in equal measure. Ruben Amorim’s side stormed into a three-goal lead through Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and Bryan Mbeumo, only to invite pressure late on as Brighton mounted a spirited comeback. Former United forward Danny Welbeck and Charalampos Kostoulas pulled the visitors back into contention before Mbeumo’s stoppage-time strike sealed the win in dramatic fashion.

United were in control for most of the first half, playing with confidence and fluency. Cunha opened the scoring in the 24th minute, curling a precise finish into the bottom corner after a slick move through midfield. Casemiro doubled the lead ten minutes later, his long-range shot taking a wicked deflection past Bart Verbruggen. The hosts might have been out of sight before the break as Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško both came close, but Brighton clung on to stay within reach.

Amorim’s men continued to dictate the rhythm after the restart, and their dominance told just after the hour mark. Luke Shaw’s driving run and cross caused chaos in the Brighton box, and Mbeumo pounced to fire home United’s third. At 3–0, the contest seemed done, but Brighton refused to fold. Welbeck, always eager to make a point against his former club, curled in a fine free-kick to reduce the deficit, before Kostoulas’s stoppage-time header set up a tense finale.

Yet United showed resilience at last. Within moments of Brighton’s second, Mbeumo raced clear on the counter and buried his shot past Verbruggen to restore the two-goal cushion and calm the home crowd. The victory made it three consecutive Premier League wins for United, lifting them into the top four and suggesting Amorim’s methods are beginning to take hold. For Brighton, however, defensive lapses proved costly, a valiant late fightback ultimately undone by United’s ruthless edge in front of goal.

Talking Points

Manchester United’s 4–2 victory over Brighton marked a significant milestone in Ruben Amorim’s early tenure, as the Red Devils recorded three consecutive league wins for the first time under the Portuguese coach. After a stuttering start to the campaign, United now look to be finding rhythm and identity, combining structured pressing with a sharper cutting edge in attack. The result lifted them into the top four and, perhaps more importantly, restored belief among supporters that Amorim’s methods are beginning to take hold. The energy around Old Trafford felt noticeably different, less tense, more purposeful, as United’s blend of youth and experience finally delivered consistency.

Bryan Mbeumo continued his impressive run of form, further justifying Amorim’s faith in him as a key attacking outlet. The Cameroonian winger has been United’s standout performer in recent weeks, and his brace against Brighton showcased both his composure and relentless work rate. His first goal, a driven effort through Lewis Dunk’s legs, epitomised his instinctive finishing, while his stoppage-time strike demonstrated a killer’s calm under pressure. Mbeumo’s blend of pace, strength and tactical intelligence has added a new dimension to United’s front line, and Amorim was quick to describe him as a “machine” after the match, praising his selfless pressing as much as his goals.

Yet for all the positives, United still found a way to make things nervy. After cruising at 3–0, they switched off, allowing Brighton back into the contest through Danny Welbeck’s superb free-kick and Charalampos Kostoulas’s late header. The late wobble underlined that this remains a team in transition, capable of brilliance but still prone to lapses in concentration. While Mbeumo’s second goal ultimately settled matters, Amorim will know that United’s defensive focus must improve if their resurgence is to last. Still, with momentum building and confidence returning, Old Trafford once again feels like a place where belief is growing, not fading.