Manchester United's winless run in the Premier League stretched to three matches after a 2-3 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 16 September. The Reds threw away a two-goal lead inside the opening ten minutes, conceding three times in the second half to slump to 13th in the table with just four points from four games.
Shea Lacey opened the scoring after just eight minutes, finishing from a Youri Tielemans assist. Mason Mount doubled the advantage two minutes later, seemingly putting United in complete control. Brighton pulled one back through Charalampos Kostoulas in first-half stoppage time, a goal that changed the momentum of the match.
Pascal Groß equalised for the visitors in the 65th minute, before Maxim De Cuyper completed the turnaround just four minutes later. United could not find a response, suffering a second consecutive league loss after their 0-1 defeat to Manchester City three days prior.
The result leaves Erik ten Hag's side with a record of one win, one draw and two defeats. They have scored seven goals but conceded an equal number, leaving them with a zero goal difference and eight points adrift of early leaders Arsenal. The team's recent form shows two losses, a win and two draws from their last five outings.
United's next challenge is a trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on 20 September. Fulham currently sit 18th, making it a critical fixture for both sides. The club's standings position underlines the need for a swift turnaround.
Injury concerns continue to mount ahead of the Fulham game. Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton and Luke Shaw are all currently sidelined. Bruno Fernandes remains the team's top scorer this season with three goals.
United's schedule does not get easier, with a run of games against top-half opponents looming in October. The immediate focus, however, is squarely on stopping the slide at Fulham this weekend.
