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Manchester United took on Brighton and Hove Albion on the Amex stadium on Saturday lunchtime and named an unchanged facet from their first recreation towards Fulham on opening weekend.
Andre Onana stored his place in purpose whereas Noussair Mazraui began at proper again, aiming to construct on a powerful debut final week. Diogo Dalot began alongside Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire retained his beginning berth forward of Matthijs de Ligt.
Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount made up the midfield trio.
Regardless of a loss of life within the household, Amad Diallo stored his place and was joined by Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes up entrance. Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho needed to make do with a spot on the bench regardless of a powerful show final day out.
Listed below are three issues we realized from the match towards the Seagulls.
United proceed to have a mushy underbelly
Regardless of a comparatively managed begin the place United demonstrated good defensive management, there was a familiarity to final 12 months the place they’d usually concede below the slightest little bit of stress.
While there was clearly a greater tactical solidity, lack of focus combined with poor determination making allowed Brighton to leap into an undeserved lead.
The Pink Devils switched off at precisely the improper second as Maguire inexplicably determined to depart a harmful ball from the suitable which was ultimately turned again for a grateful Danny Welbeck to fit in.
Objectively Maguire put in a really stable efficiency towards Fulham however all-too acquainted errors creeped into his recreation and he will probably be disillusioned to not have handled the scenario extra confidently on reflection.
Maybe it can have price him his place towards Liverpool the place followers might count on new signing De Ligt to start his partnership with Martinez.
The entire defensive position had been responsible for the final gasp Brighton winner the place all of them switched to the suitable and left Joao Pedro in acres of house to bury the winner. A scarcely plausible instance of precisely what United want to repair if they’re to turn into the staff their followers need them to be.
Lack of quantity 9 stays a problem
Regardless of some optimistic facets of United’s play, the Pink Devils’ first half show as soon as once more mirrored the issues versus Fulham on opening day.
Amad Diallo fluffed an incredible likelihood after an exquisite cross from Diogo Dalot and missed an opportunity to play in Marcus Rashford on the counter.
Nevertheless, as we noticed on opening day, the dearth of quantity 9 to carry up play and join with the midfield usually left the facet wanting toothless regardless of good possession statistics.
For that purpose Joshua Zirkzee was launched at half-time, quarter-hour sooner than he bought an opportunity to make his mark on opening weekend.
Regardless of costing Garnacho a purpose in an unlucky deflection, the Dutchman held the ball up nicely and confirmed off robust technical play to launch quite a few breaks out to the 2 widemen, as United had been extra harmful within the second half.
Erik ten Hag will probably be hoping that with the return of Rasmus Hojlund and getting Zirkzee as much as match health, will imply it is a downside the membership is not going to must face too many extra occasions this season.
Diogo Dalot impresses once more
Final 12 months’s gamers’ participant of the season has began off this season in an identical vein of kind as he completed the final.
The Portuguese pulled off an exquisite cross early within the first half when he received the ball out extensive and chased his personal flick on to whip in an exquisite first time ball that Amad ought to have buried.
Dalot was additionally very robust in defence as he repeatedly stood as much as the attacking risk of Yankuba Minteh, as he repeatedly received their one on one battles.
He was additionally the quickest to react when Brighton felt that they had added to their lead early within the second half however he cleared off the road to cease what would have been a sure purpose.
His performances are much more spectacular considered within the context that he’s taking part in as a left again to cowl for United’s lack of match choices in that place.
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