25 OCTOBER 2025
MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER.
The Albion travelled North to meet Manchester United in a Premier League fixture at Old Trafford, the match being televised "live" by Sky Sports and broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport. The Seagulls were looking for a fourth successive Premier League win at the Theatre of Dreams.
Last time out in the Premier the Seagulls had won 2-1 at home to Newcastle United on the 18 October and for their visit to Old Trafford the Albion made one change to their starting line-up from the Newcastle game, with Maxim De Cuyper coming in for Diego Gomez.
In their previous Premier League outing United had achieved an excellent 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on the 19 October and for Albion's visit Head Coach Ruben Amorim made two changes to his starting line-up from the Liverpool game, with Leny Yoro and Benjamin Sesko replacing Harry Maguire (injured) and Mason Mount.
In their meetings in the Premier last season, the Albion did the double over the United, winning 2-1 at the Amex on the 24 August 2024, with Danny Welbeck (32m) and Joao Pedro (90+5m) scoring for the Seagulls and Amad Diallo (60m) replying for the Red Devils.
In the reverse fixture at Old Trafford on the 19 January 2025 the Albion ran out 3-1 winners, with their goals coming from Yankuba Minteh (5m), Kaoru Mitoma (60m) and Georginio Rutter (76m) whilst United's goal was scored by Bruno Fernandes (23m, penalty). .
A brisk start by both sides saw Bruno Fernandes send a header wide from a Bryan Mbeumo cross and Matheus Cunha fire a shot into the side netting, whilst at the other end Yankuba Minteh sent a shot wide and Danny Welbeck saw his shot saved by United keeper Senne Lammens.
However on 24 minutes United took the lead as Casemiro slipped the ball through to Cunha who from the edge of the box sent a curled precise right-foot shot past the helpless Bart Verbruggen into the Albion net. It was the Brazilian's first Premier goal for the Red Devils. 0-1.
Ten minutes later the home side found themselves two up when Casemiro's shot from distance took a wicked deflection off the back of Yasin Ayari and ended up in the back of the Albion net. 0-2.
Mbeumo then set-up a chance for Benjamin Sesko but the Slovenian's shot flew wide of the target. A poor half for the Seagulls with far too many misplaced passes and losses of possession.
Half-time 0-2.
Surprisingly, there were no Albion changes following the break. Carlos Baleba wastefully blazed a shot way over the bar and Albion passes kept going astray. Sesko then had a shot parried back into play by Verbruggen. Albion made a triple substitution on the hour, with Tommy Watson, James Milner and Diego Gomez replacing Maxim De Cuyper, Baleba and Ayari.
It was Watson's Premier League debut for the Albion. A minute later and the home side increased their lead as Sesko's pass found Mbeumo whose left-foot shot flashed beyond Verbruggen for United's third. 0-3.
On 74 minutes Albion's mini-revival started after Minteh had been fouled by substitute Patrick Dorgu and up-stepped Welbeck to convert the free-kick with a superb shot. 1-3.
Then in the second minute of time added on, two Albion substitutes combined for a second Seagulls goal as Milner's corner was nodded home by young Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas for his first Albion goal in the Premier. 2-3.
Five minutes to go but Albion's hopes were dashed when substitute Ayden Heaven's through ball found Mbeumo who smashed the ball home for his second of the game and United's fourth. 2-4.
Seagulls winning run at Old Trafford was over.
Final-score 2-4.
Albion had 17 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
Manchester United had 13 attempts at goal, with 9 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 4.
VERDICT - For 70 minutes Albion were abysmal, with passes going astray, opponents not being picked up at crucial moments and rightfully the worst offenders, midfielders Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari were hooked on the hour. A mini-revival saw Danny Welbeck score with a superb free-kick and Charalampos Kostoulas net his first Premier goal.
The Seagulls have the chance to redeem themselves when they travel to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on the 29 October.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER (Stefanos TZIMAS 87), Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Maxim DE CUYPER (Tommy WATSON 59); Carlos BALEBA (James MILNER 59), Yasin AYARI (Diego GOMEZ 59); Ferdi KADIOGLU, Georginio RUTTER (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 79), Yankuba MINTEH; Danny WELBECK.
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, N. ORIOLA, Diego COPPOLA.
Manchester United line-up (3-4-2-1):- Senne LAMMENS; Leny YORO, Mattijs DE LIGT, Luke SHAW (Ayden HEAVEN 65); Amad DIALLO (Patrick DORGU 70), CASEMIRO (Kobbie MAINOO 70), Bruno FERNANDES (Capt), Diego DALOT; Bryan MBEUMO, Matheus CUNHA (Manuel UGARTE 81); Benjamin SESKO (Joshua ZIRKZEE 82).
Subs not used: Altay BAYINDIR (G/K), Noussair MAZRAOUI, Tyrell MALACIA, Mason MOUNT.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward.
VAR Official: Michael Oliver.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Carlos Baleba, Ferdi Kadioglu. Manchester United: 2 - Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Sesko.
Possession: Albion - 56%. Manchester United - 44%.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
29 OCTOBER 2025 - ARSENAL - AWAY - CARABAO CUP, FOURTH ROUND -
KICK-OFF 19.45. "LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS.
1 NOVEMBER 2025 - LEEDS UNITED - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE -
KICK-OFF - 15.00.
Jack Kaye.
29 October 2025.