Manchester United vs Brighton 1-3: English Premier League – as it happened

Brighton complete a third successive victory at Old Trafford to bolster their league hopes.

United will be left with some soul searching to do as they look to get back to winning ways under Amorim’s tutelage.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of today’s match, and on behalf of Hafsa Adil and the Al Jazeera Sport team, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

BIG win for @OfficialBHAFC 🔵⚪️

The Seagulls put on a show at Old Trafford to beat Man Utd!#MUNBHA pic.twitter.com/x39kjtuJDA

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2025

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim provided his post-match verdict: “This is not acceptable, no matter how much training time [you have].

“You concede a goal quickly and then everything is twice as difficult. The players are anxious, they are careful with the ball, they don’t try to play between the lines, [there is] nervousness at every touch. We managed to equalise and create moments, then we conceded again.

“We have to win games. Every time we implement an idea, we lose a game and [our] confidence takes a hit. If you don’t win, you can doubt the way you play. We have to keep doing what we’re doing, but we have to win to sell the idea to the players.”

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler spoke with Sky Sports: “I think we showed a very mature performance. We had a good balance of good defence and controlling the game in possession. We dominated, especially the second half, and created the chances. I’m happy and proud of the group.

“In the end, we are proud and happy, but these wins only give us three points. We have to keep working and pushing. It’s always something special to win at Old Trafford against a very big opponent and a club with big traditions. Therefore, we are happy. But we should keep working on the consistency in our performance and results. We should go day by day to try and improve.

“There’s always a bit of advice at half-time, but it’s there to say to players what we need to win the game and what we need to change. These are small margins. You can do it in a rage or emotional way. But it’s always the quality of the players. They showed it today in the second half.

“I think it doesn’t help if we think about what could have or should have been. In the end that’s football. We should trust the process. It’s about improving the players individually and as a group. I was also happy with the performances with the draws, because I trust the process and don’t judge the team by the results. Long term, that is the right thing to do. We try to carry on to get the consistency and the performances in the results.

“I think that’s important for them to see the bad periods we had and what was bad in those periods and what we did wrong. It’s important they see it as a learning process. Our young players are mature and they know the things they have to do to win the game.”

Brighton defender Lewis Dunk spoke after the game: “A good day. I thought we deserved the win, the intensity was excellent in the second half. We started the game well, dropped off a bit, and they got a goal back. We were a bit frustrated at half-time but we showed what we were about in the second half.

“We’ve had a good record over them over the years – long may that continue. A big week we’ve had and we’ve put ourselves in a good position in the league. We have another big game coming up [against Everton] and we can’t roll over and think it’s done and stop doing what we’re doing. We can’t beat anyone like that.

“We were comfortable at the end, we didn’t give them any chances at the end all game. We were comfortable, we pressed them at the end. We have learned, to win a game of football, it doesn’t have to be pretty to win a game.

“We could have been in an even better place, but we’re looking up the table and where we want to be.”

We next shift our focus to the Champions League, where table leaders Liverpool take on Lille at Anfield.

Coverage of that is set to begin on January 21 at 18:00 GMT, so do make sure to tune in!

📸😄 pic.twitter.com/lIrLLBpuA9

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 18, 2025

It doesn’t get any easier for Amorim’s men, as they face a difficult assignment at Fulham on January 26.

On January 25, Brighton take on a tricky Everton, who are fresh from a 3-2 victory over Tottenham today.

🇫🇷👑 pic.twitter.com/L2gVbI4K8L

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 19, 2025

Georginio Rutter, who put the game away at 3-1 after Onana’s misstep, spoke with the host broadcaster after the match: “Yeah of course we are very happy. We were disappointed after Christmas time [with our results], but we have come back in 2025 very well. We are happy with the three points today.

“There are good fans here. [It is] Hard to play here, but today we stayed very calm and confident. This is why sometime you don’t have to be stressed when playing your football.”

Brighton push past Fulham to claim ninth place in the league standings with 34 points.

United slip further down to 13th spot, with 26 points.

With eight of the 10 matches for Matchday 22 completed, here are the updated results:

• Newcastle 1-4 Bournemouth
• West Ham 0-2 Crystal Palace
• Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
• Leicester City 0-2 Fulham
• Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
• Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton
• Everton 3-2 Tottenham
• Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

After the teams managed to enter the interval at one goal apiece, it looked like the game was destined for a draw, given the back-and-forth nature of the encounter.

But Brighton came out of the gates firing, with Pedro looking to have put them ahead, before VAR had their say.

They didn’t relent, though, as Mitoma and then an Onana blunder ultimately put the game away.

Full-time: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

FT: ALBION WIN AT OLD TRAFFORD AGAIN! 🙌

[1-3] 📲 #MUNBHA // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/PjwnJQwfM5

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 19, 2025

As we creep into the ninth minute of stoppage time, the referee finally calls time.

With that, Brighton complete a third straight victory at Old Trafford.

Full-time: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

Brighton, given their position, are content to stay back and keep the hosts at bay.

In an effort to manage the clock, they make a double change as Baleba and Pedro are replaced by Julio Enciso and Diego Gomez.

90+5 mins: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

The fourth official signals for a generous eight minutes of additional time.

90+1 mins: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

Some United fans have seen enough as they head to the exits. The post-mortem on this one will be quite interesting, to say the least.

Meanwhile, Garnacho powers a shot at goal from the right side of the box, but misses the frame entirely.

89 mins: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

The centre-back is temporarily out of position as he advances into the Brighton end from the right side.

He spots Hojlund in the box, and tries to steer a cross into him, but puts too must mustard on it as the ball heads out for a goal kick.

87 mins: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

Zirkzee and Mazraoui are taken off for Antony and Rasmus Hojlund for the hosts.

Estupinan comes off for Tariq Lamptey for the visitors.

84 mins: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton

It is delivered by Fernandes from the right side.

The ball sweeps into the box, and despite some nervy moments, Brighton are able to neutralise the threat.

83 mins: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton