Manchester United 1 (Mac Allister own goal 68′) Brighton 2 (Gross 30′, 39′)
Erik ten Hag was given a stark reminder that his is a job to rebuild rather than finesse Manchester United as they were beaten by Brighton at home in their Premier League opener.
Two first-half goals from German midfielder Pascal Gross saw the Old Trafford faithful, who had been out in numbers before kick-off to protest against the club’s ownership, boo their players back down the tunnel at the break.
It was one of their own who helped effect the first-half downfall of United’s gameplan when Danny Welbeck was played in behind the back line by Leandro Trossard, and his pass found Gross unmarked at the back post to stroke the ball home.
It was no less than Brighton deserved although the two-goal advantage they ended up with at the break perhaps flattered them a little, although the quality of the move for the second, which started by their own corner flag and ended with Gross following in Solly March’s saved shot, was possibly worthy of three points on its own.
United, who introduced Cristiano Ronaldo shortly after the break, did improve and came closest to halving the deficit when Marcus Rashford was brilliantly denied by a spreadeagled Robert Sanchez. The Spanish goalkeeper produced another strong save minutes later to deny Christian Eriksen, but then flapped at an inswinging corner that was eventually cleared into his own net by Alexis Mac Allister.
It was too little too late for United though.
Manchester United player ratings
David De Gea – Pre-season microphones picked up Ten Hag berating De Gea for kicking the ball long, and Brighton’s high pressing put his passing under pressure on more than one occasion. Could do little about the first goal, perhaps could have pushed the initial shot from March further away for the second. 6/10
Diogo Dalot – Awful first touch of the season almost saw United concede after 17 seconds and was repeatedly exposed by Trossard’s passing. 4/10
Harry Maguire – Was a little caught out by Welbeck’s run in behind, which eventually left United overloaded at the back post. Still developing an understanding with Martinez that at present seems non-existent. 5/10
Lisandro Martinez – Much talk about how he could possibly cope with being so small, but the greater challenge is to coalesce with a back line that isn’t currently much of a unit at all. Was very lucky not to have a penalty given against him for a push on Welbeck too. 4/10
Luke Shaw – Was the best of a bad bunch in defence, but that is a low bar. 6/10
Fred – Nervy moment early on when trying to play out from the back facing his own goal, something that he will have to get better at under Ten Hag. Did not react fast enough when De Gea pushed March’s shot into Gross’ path for the second, and was hooked for Ronaldo. 5/10
Scott McTominay – Was perhaps lucky only to see yellow for a follow-through that caught Caicedo high on the shin, but even that hampered him in in his inability to shut down counter-attacks. Gave the ball away in positions that led to chances on multiple occasions, and when he did get forward lacked any sort of real incision. 4/10
Jadon Sancho – Beautiful cross-field pass helped spark arguably United’s most potent attack of the first half on the counter, but was largely peripheral. 5/10
Bruno Fernandes – It could have been so different had Bruno not blazed the ball over from 13 yards with the score still 0-0. Flitting in between the lines was troublesome at times. 6/10
Marcus Rashford – Showed bits and pieces of energy cutting in from the left but probably should have scored United’s first goal of the season twice in five minutes, once from 15 yards with no defender in sight and then with 25 minutes left unmarked at the back post, but his left-footed volley never threatened the net. 5/10
Christian Eriksen – Got his feet a little tangled in the box when a speedy counter-attack ended with a chance to strike at goal. Teasing ball shortly after the break nearly picked out Rashford. Will do well to play the false nine role that Ten Hag seems to want him to play in. Better as a deeper playmaker as he became when Ronaldo came on. 6/10
Subs
Cristiano Ronaldo (53′ for Fred) – Very nearly created a goal inside six minutes, laying the ball off for Rashford after making a run in behind. 7/10
Donny van de Beek (78′ for McTominay) – A few smart touches to suggest he still has something to offer the club. 6/10
Anthony Elanga (90′ for Sancho)
Tyrell Malacia (90′ for Shaw)
Alejandro Garnacho (90′ for Fernandes)
Brighton player ratings
Robert Sanchez – Had nothing to do for nearly an hour and then brilliantly denied Rashford one-on-one. Stopped an awkwardly deflected shot too but then undid his good work by flapping at a corner. Capable of brilliance and insanity, often in the same minute. 7/10
Joel Veltman – Helped by Gross pinning him back but he did keep Rashford relatively quiet. Will have tougher days at the office. 7/10
Lewis Dunk – Imperious in the air and growing as a distributor. 7/10
Adam Webster – Adapted well when Brighton switched to a back four but United rarely troubled him. 7/10
Solly March – Typically hard-working performance and made his presence felt at both ends. A fine start to his 11th league season with the club. 7/10
Alexis Mac Allister – Will be charged with replacing Yves Bissouma this season, big shoes to fill, looks like he is relishing the challenge. 7/10
Moises Caicedo – Had produced several awkward crosses before a painful challenge from Scott McTominay left him writhing in pain. Got up though and saw out the 90 minutes. 7/10
Leandro Trossard – Harried hard and played the key pass in behind to open up United for the first goal. Rarely seemed to make the wrong decision. 8/10
Pascal Gross – Lovely early pass slipped Welbeck in behind but came to nothing, but the striker returned the favour inside the first half hour to allow him to stroke home. 9/10
Adam Lallana – 8/10
Danny Welbeck – An obvious focal point for the Brighton attack, Welbeck lost his footing when played in early on and might have done better when Caicedo dropped a cross on his head. Made a good run in behind Maguire before squaring for Gross’ opener. 9/10
Subs
Enok Mwepu (75′ for Trossard)
Tariq Lamptey (75′ for Lallana)
Levi Colwill (90′ for March)
Denis Undav (90+5′ for Welbeck)
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