MANCHESTER, England — The troubles for Manchester United deepened after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brighton during their Premier League match on Sunday.
Brighton saw goals from Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, and Georginio Rutter, while Bruno Fernandes managed to score a penalty for United, marking the team’s 10th loss in the league this season.
This marks the seventh defeat in 15 matches since new head coach Ruben Amorim took charge, emphasizing the significant challenge he faces in revitalizing the storied club, which has won the league title 20 times.
Similarly, Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles continued with a 3-2 loss to Everton, who are fighting against relegation. In contrast, Nottingham Forest continues its surprising title challenge, securing a 3-2 win against bottom-placed Southampton.
Manchester City also enjoyed success, moving up to fourth place after a resounding 6-0 victory over Ipswich.
Fans of United faced jeers from Brighton supporters as many chose to leave before the match concluded.
Brighton’s win was their third consecutive triumph over United at Old Trafford, completing a double against the club this season.
According to statistics from the Premier League, United has experienced their worst start at home since the 1893-94 season, with six defeats in just 12 league matches. Amorim candidly acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “We’ve set all the poor records… we are really underperforming. And we need to win games, that’s all.”
Observing from the sidelines, a visibly troubled Amorim watched as his team fell behind just five minutes into the game. Although Fernandes equalized before halftime, Brighton regained control after the break, with Mitoma scoring in the 60th minute, followed by Rutter capitalizing on a mistake from United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Amorim was brought in with hopes of reversing United’s downturn following over a decade of struggles since the departure of legendary manager Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Despite his successful history leading Sporting Lisbon to two league titles, his impact in England has been underwhelming. A recent draw against league leaders Liverpool and a penalty shootout win against Arsenal momentarily boosted the club’s spirits but overall, it reflects just one win in the last eight games.
Before the match, fans honored former striker Denis Law, who recently passed away at the age of 84.
In contrast, Tottenham’s issues are deepening as they managed only one win from their last ten league matches. Since a win against Southampton on December 15, Spurs have been unable to find form.
While Ange Postecoglou’s side advanced to the semifinals of the English League Cup and holds a slight lead against Liverpool, they remain perilously close to the relegation zone, just three positions above it.
At Goodison Park, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye, and Archie Gray (own goal) all found the net before halftime. Though Spurs fought back with goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, they couldn’t overcome the deficit, allowing David Moyes to celebrate his first win since returning to manage Everton.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest’s remarkable season continues, as they remain unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, placing them third and just six points behind Liverpool.
Managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest secured their latest victory against Southampton, initially racing to a 3-0 lead with contributions from Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Chris Wood. However, they had to fend off a late resurgence from Southampton, with Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu scoring. A crucial clearance by Ola Aina kept Southampton from equalizing in stoppage time.
As for Manchester City, they enjoyed a decisive 6-0 victory over Ipswich at Portman Road, fresh off Erling Haaland signing a new contract through 2034.
Haaland scored his 22nd goal of the season as City comfortably led 4-0. Phil Foden netted twice, with Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, and James McAtee also contributing to the scoreline.
The victory lifted City into fourth place, surpassing Newcastle on goal difference.
