The play was not too bad, but the opportunities wasted by Marcus Rashford caused Man Utd to pay the price with their third loss since the beginning of the season. The visiting Brighton team was sharper in their shots, scoring three goals in just the first seven shots. This is Man Utd’s first loss at Old Trafford in the Premier League, since losing 0-2 to Brighton in round one last season.

The “Red Devils” fell to rock bottom in the 71st minute, when defender Tariq Lamptey passed a cross for Joao Pedro to shoot a one-touch shot from the edge of the penalty area to the far corner into the net, helping the away team lead 3-0. Goalkeeper Andre Onana should have done better, as he touched the ball but could not push it out. After this defeat, many groups of Old Trafford spectators flocked to leave. Previously, many people were unhappy because coach Erik ten Hag withdrew Rasmus Hojlund from the field to give Anthony Martial his position.

These spectators probably did not have time to enjoy the masterpiece of a long-range shot by 20-year-old midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, pulling back a goal for Man Utd. But in the last 20 minutes of the match, the away team kept the ball firmly and for many consecutive minutes did not let the opponent touch the ball. When referee Jarred Gillett’s final whistle sounded, the Old Trafford stands were several thousand empty.

In fact, Man Utd is not that bad, as they finish more shots and create equally dangerous opportunities as their opponents. Ten Hag used a diamond-shaped midfield in this match, placing Rashford and rookie Hojlund in the starting lineup. In the first half, Rashford squandered no less than three good opportunities, while Hojlund once put the ball into the net but his goal was not recognized because the ball had previously drifted across the line even though the distance was small.

Brighton attacked more methodically, with all three goals following the same scenario down the sideline and passing into the middle. From there, Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and Pedro respectively scored to bring the away team’s fourth victory this season. They could have won more when Ansu Fati faced off at the last minute, but the kick of the Barca striker was caught and pushed away by Onana.

This match for the entire Brighton team only cost them $25 million in transfer fees, less than a third of striker Hojlund’s value. But the away team showed that football is not mathematics, and Roberto De Zerbi’s army continued to fly high in the Top 4 of the Premier League, three points away from the top of Man City’s table.

Man Utd sank deeper into the second half of the scoreboard, at position 12. They could drop two more places if Chelsea and Newcastle both won in the following matches. Ten Hag’s teachers and students must recover if they do not want to continue losing miserably in the next match, against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena in the first round of the Champions League group stage on the evening of September 20.