“Can we play you every week,” sang the delirious Brighton fans, whose team moved Manchester United to near crisis territory with this breeze of a victory.
Roberto De Zerbi’s XI cost a cool £17m (he made six changes from the 3-1 win against Newcastle), Erik ten Hag’s an eye-watering £347m. Yet this was United’s third defeat from five outings – greeted with jeers by the home support – and a second on the bounce. They have six points from a possible 15 and if they lose at Burnley next Saturday, United are engulfed in a plight not in the early season script.