Premier League: Manchester United hit new lows
Manchester United’s dreadful Premier League season reached a new low on Saturday night, when they were defeated 4-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion.
With the defeat, Manchester United is officially out of contention for a place in the Champions League, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The Red Devils looked sluggish from the start and were punished when Moises Caicedo put Brighton ahead after only 15 minutes.
The Seagulls played with freedom and flair in the second half, scoring goals from Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross, and Leandro Trossard to cap an unpleasant evening for Ralf Rangnick’s men.
The travelling Red Devils supporters told the players, “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.” United’s stars couldn’t argue with them, too, having reached a new low by earning the fewest points and surrendering the most goals in a single season in a Premier League era in which they had only been thrashed this severely on a few times.
Story of the match
Brighton dominated the game from the start and took the lead in the 15th minute via Moises Caicedo. It was the Ecuador international’s first goal for the club, and it marked the beginning of an unforgettable afternoon for the hosts.
Danny Welbeck, a former Manchester United forward, had an opportunity to make it 2-0 just before halftime, but his lofted shot over the helpless David de Gea following Raphael Varane’s weak touch had too much strength and cleared the crossbar.
Marc Cucurella scored his first goal for Brighton in less than four minutes later, shooting into the top of the net from close range after a Leandro Trossard cutback.
Eight minutes later, Pascal Gross joined in on the act with a flowing play that resulted in the German directing a crisp shot past De Gea into the far corner from within the box.
Trossard capped the thrashing with an hour remaining when Diogo Dalot’s clearance off the line went off his chest and into the United net – the goal awarded following a VAR assessment for handball.
The visitors did score, but Cavani, who is poised to depart the club on a free transfer, was obviously offside when he prodded home after Harry Maguire fired a pass across the goalmouth.
Disaster class
This was as near to a disaster-class experience as a so-called exclusive club can get. United appeared to be terrified to be out there and, in general, did not appear to care about any type of intense offensive plays.
They were bullied, predictable in their decision-making, worried at every point, and had no other option except to play it back to one of their only capable first-teamers.
United have now conceded 56 goals in the Premier League this season, their worst defensive record in a single campaign in the competition.
