Erik ten Hag’s reign as Manchester United manager didn’t get off to an ideal start, with the Red Devils losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
It was Pascal Gross who netted twice for the Seagulls in the first half, while Alexis Mac Allister inadvertently prodded the ball into his own net after 68 minutes, as United staged an unsuccessful fight back.
Brighton nearly scored within seconds of the game starting, with Leandro Trossard hitting the side netting with an effort.
Meanwhile, United’s best opening of the first period came on seven minutes as Bruno Fernandes fired an effort over from inside the box.
The Seagulls started slowly but grew into the game and, after several half chances, netted the first goal of the game after half an hour, when Gross tapped in at the back post following Danny Welbeck’s excellent cross.
The German doubled the lead soon after, again placing a shot into the net from close range. On this occasion, Gross followed in after David de Gea palmed Solly March’s effort towards his far post.
The second period started with Marcus Rashford hitting the side netting, while Welbeck went close with a glancing header.
In the second half, United had decent strikes from Rashford and then a Christian Eriksen shot from distance, before getting one back via a corner.
Diogo Dalot got the initial touch on Fernandes’s cross, although it was ultimately knocked into the net from Brighton’s Mac Allister.
Cristiano Ronaldo had been introduced by then, and United had decent efforts from Dalot and Martinez, with the latter having a strike blocked in the box late on.
But Brighton kept the ball well in the latter stages and stopped United creating as many chances as they would have liked, with the Seagulls deservedly heading back with the three points.
Here’s how we rated the players...
5. Luke Shaw- 5 (off 90)
Looked a little off the pace on the opening weekend and didn’t create much going forward.
6. Fred- 4 (off 53)
Disappointed at the base of midfield and was wasteful in possession. He was the man sacrificed as United threw on Ronaldo in the second half.
7. Scott McTominay- 4 (off 78)
Another who will be disappointed with his showing on Sunday and the midfielder could have been sent off for a bad challenge on Moises Caicedo in the first half. McTominay played further forward, in a more box-to-box role.
8. Bruno Fernandes- 6 (off 90)
Saw a lot of the ball and tried to make chances, but his final ball was too often missing. Fernandes will be disappointed with his chance after seven minutes from which he should have hit the target.