Andre Onana and Noussair Mazraoui both struggled as Manchester United were deservedly beaten 3-1 by Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Ruben Amorim made three changes from the side that defeated Southampton in midweek as Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee all came into the line up.
It was another horrendous start to a match for United as Yankuba Minteh scored within the opening five minutes after a brilliant counter-attack from Carlos Beleba and Kaoru Mitoma to give Brighton the lead. United responded well though and equalised through a Bruno Fernandes penalty after Zirkzee had been cynically fouled in the box by Baleba.
After the leveller, United enjoyed a good spell of possession, with Zirkzee and Amad Diallo both threatening on several occasions but there were few other chances before the half-time break.
Brighton thought they had another goal early in the second half when Joao Pedro finished from close range following a free-kick, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR after a foul on Diogo Dalot in the build up. It wasn't long before they did though, when Mitoma bundled the ball in at the back-post after poor defending from both Noussair Mazraoui and Andre Onana.
If the second goal was poor, the third was unacceptable. Brighton sealed their win when Onana failed to catch a straightforward low cross in his own box and gifted Georginio Rutter a simple tap-in.
Here is how we rated the United players on another difficult afternoon at Old Trafford:
1. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Yankuba Minteh of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Old Trafford on January 19, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Getty Images
2. Andre Onana - 3
There was little he could have done about the first Brighton goal but there was no sympathy for the second or third. A horrendous performance. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Matthijs de Ligt - 5
Grew into the match as it progressed. He made a good block in his box and some important clearances. | Manchester United via Getty Images
4. Harry Maguire - 4
He played Mitoma onside for the early Brighton goal. A few shaky defensive moments on his return to the line up. | Manchester United via Getty Images