Manchester United conceded in the 95th minute to suffer a 2-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. Erik ten Hag will return to M16 in disbelief over how his side didn’t take three points rather than zero after a freak disallowed go-ahead goal in the second half.
Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored his 100th career club goal in the 32nd minute before Amad’s deflected strike equalised after the break.
But Joao Pedro’s stoppage-time free header earned the hosts a huge win as familiar issues re-surfaced for the visitors. Express Sport runs through four talking points from United’s first defeat of the season on the south coast.
Danny Welbeck strikes back
It would’ve come to the surprise of no United supporter that Welbeck was the man to open the scoring for Brighton against the run of play.
The 33-year-old has made a serious habit of haunting against his former club.
In fact, his fifth Premier League goal against United is now more than any other of the club’s ex-players.
Welbeck’s opener was made all the more special by the fact that it was the 100th goal of his club career.
Amad’s stock rises
Amad was somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Ten Hag’s starting lineup a day after announcing the passing of his stepmum on social media.
The 22-year-old winger struggled in the first half, but he repaid his manager’s persistence by scoring the equaliser on the hour mark.
He made his fifth consecutive Premier League start at the Amex and did enough to keep his place against Liverpool next weekend.
Amad also played a crucial role in the electric build-up for Alejandro Garnacho’s disallowed winner and is primed to enjoy a strong campaign.
Joshua Zirkzee: Hero to Zero
United looked to have edged ahead in the second half after Garnacho rounded off a scintillating move by slotting into an empty net.
But VAR disallowed the goal after replays showed last week’s hero against Fulham, Joshua Zirkzee, touch the ball before it crossed the line while he was in an offside position.
The freak incident cost United dearly, and it stung even harder after Pedro’s last-gasp header condemned the visitors to defeat.
The Red Devils will not have wanted to taste their first loss of the season in their second game, especially with a clash against Liverpool on the horizon.
Man Utd’s potential transfer blow
United will hope to be active in the transfer market before Friday’s summer transfer deadline, which falls two days before their next Premier League game against Liverpool.
However, their plans to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte may rest on Napoli meeting their £25million valuation of Scott McTominay.
But while McTominay started on the bench, an alternative Napoli target, Billy Gilmour, started in midfield and massively impressed for the Seagulls.
McTominay’s Scotland team-mate’s performance could tempt Antonio Conte to press forward with plans to recruit him instead. That could leave United struggling to gather funds to lure Ugarte to Old Trafford.
