Man United slump to defeat at home to Brighton as Spurs lose again at Everton


Stuart James
  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester United lost 3-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford as they fell to their sixth home defeat of the season in the Premier League.

It is the highest number of defeats in their opening 12 home games since 1893-94, when they lost seven.

It was also their fourth loss in five Premier League home matches - and 10th from 22 games so far this season - and it leaves Ruben Amorim's side 13th in the table.

The visitors took the lead after just five minutes through Yankuba Minteh before United skipper Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot on 23 minutes.

But the Seagulls, who had a Joao Pedro effort chalked off by VAR for a foul in the build-up in the 53rd minute, got their noses back in front seven minutes later thanks to Kauro Mitoma.

Then United keeper Andre Onana came sliding out to intercept a cross from Yasin Ayari but spilled the ball for substitute Georginio Rutter to turn the ball into an empty net.

It was hardly the way the home side wanted to mark the passing of club legend Denis Law on Friday. It was also Brighton's sixth win in seven meetings with United. Fabian Hurzeler's side sit in ninth place in the table.

United captain Fernandes told BBC Match of the Day: “We can't concede goals so easily. We need to be more aggressive on the ball because this is the Premier League and the quality is so high.

“You have to be high intensity all the time. We need to be braver on the ball in the final third and between the lines. I need to keep the ball more between the lines and then play from there.

“We can't end up all the time with the ball at our goalkeeper like we do. I believe that it's confidence and bravery to do the right things. We have to be brave to do it again and again. It doesn't matter how much pressure is on you or how difficult it is to play for Manchester United.”

Brighton goalscorer Rutter told Premier League Productions afterwards: “We are happy with three points today. It's good fans here [at Old Trafford], it's hard to play here but today we stayed calm and played with confidence.

"I'm very happy [with my form] but it's about the team, they help me to score every week. It can be hard when a new player comes and you're expected to score straight away but they have been patient with me."

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou saw his side slip to a third successive Premier League defeat as they were beaten 3-2 by Everton at Goodison Park.

The Australian coach has now won just five of Spurs' 19 games since November.

Everton, with former manager David Moyes back at the helm, raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and an own goal by Archie Gray in first-half stoppage time.

Spurs fought back after the break with goals from Dejan Kulusevski after 77 minutes and Richarlison two minutes into added time.

After the game Postecoglou told Sky Sports: “It is a difficult result. We struggled to really get in the game in the first half and that gave Everton momentum. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb but the players certainly tried to claw the game back but we just fell short.

“We had some chances where we probably should have capitalised early on, but in the end it wasn't enough.

“We are pretty stretched. We literally had 11 players fit enough to start the game. We weren't in total control of our organisation and Everton capitalised on that and we paid the price for it. Radu [Dragusin] had to come off because of the deep cut and restructure.

“Second half we had the fair share of the game. We started strongly and I thought Richarlison made a difference and a presence and Mikey Moore gave us something on the left.”

Everton striker Calvert-Lewin said: “I am really pleased. It has been a tough patch for myself. I'm delighted with how we went today, we needed a win for the lads and the club.

“Everything clicked today. You go through periods where you're not hitting the back of net or getting the rub of the green. We were defensively solid and built from that.

“I have been in the Premier League a long time now so it is not my first rodeo.”

Nottingham Forest moved level with Arsenal in second place on 44 points from 22 games after a 3-2 home win against Southampton.

The hosts charged to a 3-0 lead inside 41 minutes after goals from Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood.

But a fortuitous Jan Bednarek goal got the visitors back into the game before a powerful header by Paul Onuachu made it 3-1 in stoppage time.

Forest goalscorer Anderson, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, said: “We started really bright but made it hard for ourselves in the second half. Ultimately we got the three points and I'm really happy.

“We set out to attack both games with the same mentality. Southampton were really good midweek against Manchester United so we knew it was going to be hard for us. I've been working hard for that and the lads have been telling me to shoot. When I got space I thought I'd just bang it.

“The manager said it's always hard when you've got something to lose. We needed those three points because there are teams creeping up behind us.”

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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if you go

The flights

Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes. 

The hotels 

The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Updated: January 19, 2025, 5:59 PM`