Brighton continued its lead over Manchester United with a well-deserved win at Old Trafford this afternoon.
On a day that saw United pay tribute to the memory of the great Denis Law, who died on Friday, the Seagulls emerged deserved winners as Ruben Amorim's concerns continued with another lackluster display from his side.
Yankuba Mente put Brighton ahead, and although Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot, Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter added second-half goals for Fabian Horzler's side.
FT: Albion win at Old Trafford again! 🙌
(1-3) 📲 #Monba // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/PjwnJQwfM5
– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 19, 2025
Shambolic Onana is a symbol of United's problems
Rutter's goal came after a fatal mistake by United goalkeeper Andre Onana, and summed up the suffering of the hosts, as they lost to Brighton for the eighth time in 16 Premier League meetings.
United went into the game with great momentum after Amad Diallo's late hat-trick saw them beat Southampton on Thursday evening, but the atmosphere went down early when Maitoma raced past Noussair Mazraoui and crossed for Mente to fire home.
Fernandes had already come close to equalizing with a shot that went wide before the Portuguese international equalized from the penalty spot.
Diallo intercepted a loose pass from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who passed it to the recalled Joshua Zirkzee, but the Dutchman was blocked by Carlos Paleba.
Fernandes sent Verbruggen the wrong way from 12 yards, rolling him into the bottom left corner.
Brighton were playing heavily on the counter-attack but the approach was paying off and they almost restored their lead shortly before half-time.
Minthe passed the ball to Danny Welbeck inside the box but the former United striker was denied a goal on his return to Old Trafford by making a brilliant save by covering defender Diogo Dalot.
The effort was ruled out by VAR
Brighton thought they had scored again eight minutes into the second half, with Joao Pedro firing after United failed to clear Yacine Ayari's free-kick, but the goal was disallowed by VAR after a foul on Dalot by Jan-Paul van Hecke.
However, they could not be denied at the hour mark.
Mente played the ball at the far post and Maitoma did enough to see off Mazraoui's challenge and turn the ball home.
United searched for another equalizer but Zirkzee's shot, after a powerful run from Diallo, was blocked by Van Hecke.
It was a pivotal moment as Brighton immediately went down the other end and finished off the game with a third goal.
Onana thought he had saved the ball from danger by stepping out to receive Ayari's cross, but he released the ball after initially gaining possession, and Rutter had the clear task of firing into the empty net.
Amorim brought on Anthony, who was about to end his miserable spell at United with a loan move to Real Betis, and Rasmus Hoglund, and that brought some life back to United's attacking play.
Diallo forced Verbruggen to stop before another substitute, Alejandro Garnacho, shot wide when in a good position.
But their efforts came to nothing, as Brighton held on with relative ease to hand United a fourth defeat in seven matches in all competitions.
The Seagulls team ranks ninth, just four points behind the Champions League qualifying places, while United ranks 13th.
