The Red Devils were haunted by the same ghosts of last season as they succumbed to a late Joao Pedro winner at the Amex Stadium
It's a new campaign, but it feels like the same Manchester United of last season, playing unconvincingly away from home, missing a key chance and then losing to a goal deep in stoppage-time, with Joao Pedro's 94th-minute strike giving Brighton a 2-1 win on Saturday.
United fell behind to a goal from old boy Danny Welbeck after shoddy defending, but Amad Diallo made amends for a big first-half miss by levelling with a fortuitous strike which took a heavy deflection after the break.
United had the momentum and looked to have found a winner when substitute Alejandro Garnacho netted, but the goal was cruelly ruled out by VAR as an offside Joshua Zirkzee touched it over the line.
More miserable defending then allowed Brighton to grab all three points and record a third home win over United in four attempts, with substitute Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire leaving Pedro unmarked to nod home.
GOAL rates United's players from the Amex Stadium…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (5/10):
Long kick sparked a great attack, but a short pass nearly gifted Brighton a goal. Should have commanded box better for both goals and took a big risk late on with a wild slide tackle.
Noussair Mazraoui (5/10):
Couldn't stretch Brighton enough and, like the rest of the defence, switched off for the first goal.
Harry Maguire (5/10):
Part of the weak defending for Welbeck's goal but showed good anticipation later in the game, only to switch off again for Pedro's late winner.
Lisandro Martinez (5/10):
Didn't cover himself in glory for the opener but improved, only to contribute to another defensive failure at the end.
Diogo Dalot (7/10):
Lively in both areas. His dream cross was wasted by Amad, then his goal-line clearance stopped Brighton doubling the lead.
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Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):
Not influential enough.
Casemiro (4/10):
Looked exposed again and his passing was very sloppy.
Bruno Fernandes (5/10):
Got overcrowded and couldn't influence game in his usual way. Surprisingly taken off before the end.
Getty ImagesAttack
Mason Mount (6/10):
Played well and would have been rightly annoyed when he was hooked at half-time to make way for Zirkzee.
Amad Diallo (6/10):
The liveliest attacker. Wasted a good chance in the first half but was later rewarded for his persistence.
Marcus Rashford (4/10):
Created very little danger and strayed offside for his disallowed goal.
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Joshua Zirkzee (5/10):
Couldn't link well and, although it was an accident, got in the way of Garnacho's goal.
Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):
Very unlucky for his goal to be ruled out. Bungled a decent breakaway with an overhit pass to Amad.
Scott McTominay (4/10):
Bringing the Scotland international on for Fernandes was a bad move as he couldn't provide incisive passes on the counter and didn't get in any good shooting positions.
Matthijs de Ligt (4/10):
Left Pedro unmarked at the crucial moment.
Antony (N/A):
Hauled on in added time and didn't try hard enough to stop the build-up to Brighton's winner.
Erik ten Hag (4/10):
Another bitty performance away from home, another late goal conceded, and it came after he brought on a centre-back. Under pressure already.
