Beijing time (CEST) September 17 – In the third round of the EFL Cup, Manchester United suffered a devastating 3-2 defeat to Brighton at home. Fans at Old Trafford witnessed two losses in four days. In response, TA stated that Manchester United players must bear primary responsibility, with far too many elementary mistakes across their first six matches.

Reports indicate that Manchester United's recent struggles worsened midweek when they squandered a two-goal lead at Old Trafford and were ultimately eliminated from the League Cup by Brighton.

After a week marked by a controversial derby loss and news that 15-year-old prospect JJ-Gabriel requested to leave the club, Michael Carrick and his team now face another blow: losing at home after leading 2-0 for the first time in 50 years.

The match started superbly, with Shea Lacey scoring just 8 minutes into his first start, followed by Mason Mount extending the lead. However, Brighton gradually found their rhythm and dominated possession throughout, while Manchester United continued to make mistakes. Charalambos Kostoulas pulled one back before halftime.

In the second half, Manchester United's defensive lapses worsened, and Brighton dramatically scored twice in quick succession to take the lead, with Maxim De Cuyper and Pascal Gross netting within five minutes. Even with Manchester United bringing on key players like Bruno Fernandes, Brighton remained dominant, and the substitutions had little impact.

Journalists Chris McKenna and Connor O'Neill reviewed the key points from the Old Trafford clash.

After losing their season opener to Hull City, Carrick initially stated, "It's just one game." But the situation is now fundamentally different. Manchester United have suffered three defeats in just six matches this season.

The measure of Manchester United's manager is likely their league position rather than their League Cup performance, but this defeat is undoubtedly a heavy blow. Only one win in four league matches, with the other victory coming against the relatively weaker Shabab Al Ahli in the Champions League.

The team desperately needed a strong performance to ease external doubts and mounting public pressure, but the result clearly failed to achieve that. It was not simply a loss; the manner of defeat was even more humiliating. The team scored twice in the opening 10 minutes to take the lead, firmly controlling the tempo of play, but from the midway point of the first half, the team completely lost control and never recovered their familiar form.

Manchester United's midfield performed poorly in both possession and defense, while the entire back line was in constant disarray, frequently showing defensive vulnerabilities.

Carrick's substitutions failed to improve the situation, and with this collapse, Manchester United have exited their first domestic cup competition of the season.

However, the players themselves also bear significant responsibility. In the six matches played so far this season, the team has made numerous individual errors.

In the second half at Old Trafford, jeers and sighs of discontent echoed continuously.

If they fail to earn points in their next Premier League match against Fulham, the international break will be extremely difficult for Manchester United's manager.

Why Does Manchester United Struggle Playing Out From the Back?

Early on, Manchester United had strong momentum and clear ideas. It is normal for players to relax slightly after taking a two-goal lead. However, the drop in intensity quickly became careless: constant passing errors at the back, poor communication between players, and a defense that completely lost its composure.

Before halftime, Brighton won possession 8 times in Manchester United's attacking third – the most turnovers allowed by United in a first half since November 2022 against Fulham. Brighton are known for their intense pressing, and Manchester United struggled to break through their pressure, achieving only 80% pass accuracy in the first half, their lowest of the season.

Carrick started with two young centre-backs, Leny Yoro and Aidan Heaven, in this match, and against Brighton's physical style of play, both young players appeared extremely nervous.

Even setting aside Brighton's high press, Manchester United made several basic defensive errors. Heaven fell to the ground with barely any contact, attempting to win a free kick near the goal line; Yoro attempted several risky long passes, mostly without success.

On either side of Yoro and Aidan Heaven were the more experienced Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot, but both full-backs failed to bring the necessary stability to the chaotic and disorganized defense. Brighton frequently created dangerous attacks from the wings, and one of their goals came from a wide cross, with the ball played to Kostoulas' side. Mazraoui failed to effectively mark his opponent during the tracking process.

Brighton's equalizing goal was typical of Manchester United's defense: United were launching an attack in Brighton's half when Dalot's careless long pass went straight to midfield. Under intense pressure, the ball was headed back by a player, landing perfectly at the feet of Brighton's unmarked midfielder, Gross. At this point, Yoro and Aidan Heaven were too far apart, leaving the central area wide open.

Brighton's winning goal was an even clearer illustration of Manchester United's poor defending: Fabian Hürzeler's team launched an attack from their own third, penetrating the entire Manchester United defense with just 4 simple passes, ultimately leading to De Cuyper's goal inside the box.

How Did Shea Lacey Perform in His Competitive Debut for Manchester United?

The transfer saga surrounding JJ-Gabriel dominated headlines this week, but the performance of this young player, who scored Manchester United's first goal in this match, is equally noteworthy. The 19-year-old academy product Lacey became Manchester United's first young player to score on his senior debut since the 18-year-old Rashford against Midtjylland in February 2016.

His eighth-minute goal was spectacular. The ball came to Lacey on the right wing, and with a clever change of direction and cut inside, he beat his marker. Just when it seemed he might shoot to the left, he cleverly pushed the ball into the bottom right corner, showcasing his creativity.

Lacey had several other standout moments. His early breakthrough down the right stretched Brighton's defense, creating a dangerous opportunity, and he also made 5 defensive contributions. With disappointing performances from the two young centre-backs Yoro and Heaven, he was one of the few bright spots for Manchester United.

What Did Carrick Say After the Match?

In his post-match interview, Carrick said: "For the first 25 minutes of the game, we were in great form, controlling the situation, and doing everything we wanted. Looking back now, it feels like a long time ago. The feeling at the start and end was completely different. But you have to accept that a lead won't last forever."

When asked about potential weaknesses in the squad, he replied: "No. Look, all responsibility for the team rests with me. When we win, people say I did well; if we don't get the desired results, most of the responsibility should be mine. So I accept it and won't shy away from it. That's how it is."

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