Sixth in the Premier League last year, Manchester United opened their season at home with Erik ten Hag making his first official appearance on the bench for the Red Devils. Against Brighton, the Manconian club, composed of an eventful preparatory season with three successes in six matches (two draws, one defeat), and thus aimed for the first victory after the wins of Tottenham and Arsenal. Without Cristiano Ronaldo, whose departure was announced in recent weeks and was present on the bench at kick-off, United presented themselves in a 4-2-3-1 with new recruit Eriksen as captain. For his part, Graham Potter, deprived of Cucurella, who left for Chelsea, chose 3-4-2-1 as Welbeck got the keys to the Seagulls attack. Manchester United are unbeaten in the last nine Premier League matches (5 wins, 4 draws), and this meeting started with very good intentions.
McTominay was moved by Sancho to find Fernandes with a beautiful back pass but the Portuguese midfielder completely missed his recovery with a flat right foot that flew over the frame (7). Erik ten Hag’s men dominated the match with more than 75% of ball possession in the first quarter of the hour, yet they had some difficulties against Brighton’s strong group. A trend that can be quickly confirmed as well. Welbeck was fired perfectly by Trossard, finding Gross alone in the far corner, who wrapped up with a flat right foot (0-1, 30). Dumbfounded, the Manconian club gradually lost the thread. After they were defeated in the duel, at the wrong time in their interventions, the Mancons bowed for a second time. Alert to the right of the box, Mars stared at Xu and fired a heavy shot from the left. On the track, De Gea swerved but the ball went back to … Gross who gave himself a double (0-2, 39).
Cristiano Ronaldo has changed nothing!
The Red Devils led at the break and were guilty of several defensive errors, returning with better intentions when they came back from the locker room. Moreover, Manchester alarmed the gulls defense for the first time with a powerful shot in the middle from Eriksen (49th place). Not enough to fool Sanchez’s vigilance. Determined to return to this meeting, Ten Hag then decided to send Cristiano Ronaldo to the Garden of the Theater of Dreams. Barely entering the match, CR7 suffered a heavy burden from Feltman, who symbolized Brighton’s physical impact in this encounter. The five-pointed golden ball went off perfectly in the rear a few seconds later, in the direction of Rashford, but the latter faced the last Brighton barricade, inspired by his interference (60). An hour later, United kept pressing to lower the mark. Once again I found a cross from Fernandes, Rasford missed the goal (65).
Getting more and more dangerous to the Seagulls’ target like this new hit from Eriksen that Sanchez (67) parried off logically ended up finding the fault. Unhappy after a chaos in the heart of his area, Mac Alister deceived his team’s goalkeeper (1-2, 68th place). With this goal, Manconian’s formation rushed again and made Dalot, with a tense shot from the right, Sanchez shine (73). More steadily in the second half, Manchester United remained lacking in the realism to find an equaliser. With this narrow win (2-1), Brighton joins Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. On the other hand, the first slip of Eric Ten Hag who will try to raise his head next Saturday On the occasion of the Red Devils’ journey on Brentford grass.
Official lineups at the start of the match
Le XI de Manchester United
Confirmed: United squad today ✔#MUFC || # alarm clock
– Manchester United (ManUtd) August 7, 2022
Le xi de Brighton
Team. 💙 This is our first eleventh of the 22/23 season! 📝
📲 // #BAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/bb72NpFWce
– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 7, 2022
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