Extending on their recent turn in fortunes, Manchester United skyrocketed their way into the Champions League spots as they secured a thrilling 4-2 victory against Brighton at Old Trafford.
Looking to use last weekend’s famous 2-1 win away at Liverpool as a major platform to build on, Ruben Amorim’s men didn’t take long to open the scoring as big-money summer recruit Matheus Cunha opened his United account midway through the first-half.
With a resurgent mood around Old Trafford, United doubled their lead just 10 minutes later as ex-Real Madrid ace Casemiro saw his deflected effort find a way past Brighton shot-stopper Bart Verbruggen.
With another summer recruit Bryan Mbeumo add a third just after the hour mark, all signs pointed to United being in complete control.
However, watching ex-United striker Danny Welbeck produce a sublime free-kick in the final 15 minutes, Brighton set up a grandstand finish as Charalampos Kostoulas flicked home a near-post header in stoppage time.
Although the mood around Old Trafford might have drastically switched, Mbeumo notched his second of the evening as the former Brentford star dragged United to a third consecutive top-flight victory.
As for Brighton, still waiting to register consecutive Premier League victories since opening up the new campaign, the Seagulls end Saturday’s fixtures down in 13th-place and still searching for some crucial stability.
On an evening when Manchester United extended on their stellar recent flurry, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Old Trafford.
United on the rise
Signing off September with a 3-1 loss at the hands of Brentford, it was reported in some sections that Amorim could be replaced during October’s international break.
However, while the former Sporting Lisbon boss might have come under a huge amount of scrutiny since arriving at Old Trafford 11 months ago, United are certainly enjoying by far their most fruitful spell of the Amorim era.
Marking their return from the fortnight interval with a sensational last-gasp 2-1 victory away at historic rivals Liverpool last weekend, the Red Devils have come skyrocketing up the Premier League table and the mood in their camp is at a memorable high.
Hitting Brighton for four here and laying down a real statement of intent, United have now won all of their previous three consecutive appearances by an aggregate score of 8-3.
Likewise, putting 12 points on the board from their last five top-flight showdowns, Amorim’s men have skyrocketed their way into the Champions League spots.
Cunha & Mbeumo show their value
Only registering 44 Premier League goals last season and with just one club who finished outside the relegation zone recording fewer top-flight strikes, it was no secret that Amorim was desperate to complete a major attacking overhaul over the summer.
Watching Rasmus Hojlund complete a loan switch to Napoli and Alejandro Garnacho eventually securing a permanent move to Chelsea, the United hierarchy spent a combined tally in the region of £200million on Cunha, Mbeumo and Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko.
Although United’s new attacking trio might have initially struggled to find any real immediate chemistry, they are certainly now firing on all cylinders.
Watching Cunha open his Manchester United account in the first-half here, Mbeumo is quickly cementing his spot as one of the Premier League’s signings of the summer.
Bagging a classy brace at Old Trafford and receiving a string of plaudits from Amorim following Sunday’s 4-2 victory in the red half of Manchester, Mbeumo has now registered five direct goal contributions in as many appearances for club and country.
Inconsistencies haunt Brighton again
While Brighton might have eventually fallen short last season in the race to book another famous European adventure, the Seagulls opened up proceedings back in August confident of mounting another genuine charge.
However, despite marking their return from October’s fortnight interval with an eye-catching 2-1 victory at home against Newcastle, Fabian Hurzeler’s camp have shown some extended inconsistencies.
Despite signing off September with a stunning comeback in west London as they stormed their way to a 3-1 victory away at Chelsea, Saturday’s guests have failed to register consecutive Premier League wins since opening up the 2025/26 campaign.
Once again sat in the bottom-half of the table, Brighton also know the importance of finding some crucial defensive steel.
Shipping a quartet of goals here for just the second time so far this calendar year, the Seagulls have also failed to register a single clean sheet from any of their first nine Premier League appearances.
Match Report
Manchester United: Lammens, Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko
Subs: Dorgu, Mainoo, Heaven, Zirkzee, Ugarte
Brighton: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Ayari, Baleba, Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper, Welbeck
Subs: Kostoulas, Milner, Gomez, Watson, Tzimas
Goals: Manchester United: Cunha (24’), Casemiro (34’), Mbeumo (61’, 90+6’) – Brighton: Welbeck (74’), Kostoulas (90+2’)
Yellow Cards: Manchester United: Sesko, Dorgu – Brighton: Baleba, Kadioglu
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Anthony Taylor
