Manchester United picked up a nice 2-0 win at Brighton on Championship Sunday, but its European fate hinges on the FA Cup Final despite the added three points.
Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund scored in the second half, but United did not get help from outside as Chelsea and Newcastle United both won to doom the Red Devils to eighth place.
WATCH BRIGHTON vs MANCHESTER UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Man United can only reach Europe by winning the FA Cup and getting a Europa League berth, and Erik Ten Hag may need that as there are more than a few questions surrounding his position as Manchester United manager.
United’s 60 points are level with seventh-place Newcastle, but the Magpies’ +23 goal differential clobbers the Red Devils’ shocking minus-1.
Brighton finish 11th on 48 points, Roberto De Zerbi slumping to a disappointing ending of time with the Seagulls.
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Two teams leave Week 38 with uncertainty
Tell us you know what the 2024-25 Premier League seasons will look like for both Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion, and we’ll laugh you out of the room.
Yes, there’s reason to think Tony Bloom has the golden touch in identifying coaches, but can he follow up back-to-back home run hires in Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi? The Seagulls will get Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson back to health and have a tremendous recruitment team, but they’ve also weathered so many big-name exits from the squad the past few years. It’s a dangerous time to project his team post-RDZ.
As for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United, they could win the FA Cup over their rivals and it still may not be Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United come August. A report late last month said that massive turnover could be coming to the squad, too, and the club will be recruiting without European football if it fails to surprise Manchester City at Wembley. There are bright young players but big-price pieces have either failed (Antony) or failed at United while thriving abroad (Jadon Sancho). Aside from Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot find a player in their prime and likely to return to Old Trafford.
What will these two look like in weeks, let alone this time next season?
Brighton 0-2 Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Brighton 0-2 Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Brighton 0-2 Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
How to watch Brighton vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 11 am ET, Sunday
TV Channel: CNBC
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com & Premier League on Peacock
Brighton vs Manchester United live updates — by Nick Mendola
Brighton vs Manchester United final score: 0-2
Goalscorers: Dalot (73'), Hojlund (88')
Rasmus Hojlund goal! Brighton 0-2 Manchester United (88th minute)
That’s really good from a pair of Danish subs.
Rasmus Hojlund drives toward goal and works a 1-2 with Christian Eriksen.
He then goes into the 18 and hammers a low shot past Steele.
Diogo Dalot goal! Brighton 0-1 Manchester United (73rd minute)
It’s against the run of play, but Erik ten Hag won’t care.
Casemiro sends a long ball toward Rasmus Hojlund, who flicks to Dalot.
He finishes past Jason Steele, and points to the badge.
Lallana in tears, applauded off Amex Stadium pitch
Adam Lallana has been at Brighton longer than we often remember, having left Liverpool in 2020.
He’s in tears as he walks off the pitch for (probably) the final time in Brighton shirt, and the Amex Stadium applauds him.
A bit of a South Coast legend, Lallana was with Bournemouth’s academy before swapping it for Southampton, once going on loan to the Cherries during a long spell with the Saints.
The 36-year-old was promoted twice with Southampton, becoming an England man while winning the Premier League and Champions League at Liverpool.
Seagulls stopped twice
A goal-line clearance quickly followed by a goal mouth block for a corner.
Brighton are doing everything but score, and the corner kick is harmlessly nodded done for collection by Andre Onana.
Good interference from Casemiro there. Still scoreless.
Halftime: Brighton 0-0 Man United
Brighton should be leading here, as Man Utd are looking more like the club we’ve seen all year than the one who beat Newcastle at midweek.
Ten shots to two for Brighton, who’ve held 58% of the ball and a 0.91-0.11 xG lead.
Big miss from McTominay
Bruno Fernandes is a man-in-form, but false-nine Scott McTominay cannot blast home from inside the 18.
It should be 1-0 Red Devils after 25 minutes.
Brighton lineup
Steele, Barco, Webster, Julio, Gross, Baleba, Lallana, Moder, Adingra, Welbeck, Pedro
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Dalot, Martinez, Casemiro, Wan-Bissaka, Amrabat, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Garnacho, McTominay
Brighton focus, team news
OUT: Lewis Dunk (knee), Kaoru Mitoma (lower back), Jean Paul van Hecke (thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Solly March (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), James Milner (thigh), Pervis Estupinan (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Joel Veltman (knock)
Manchester United focus, team news
OUT: Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Mason Mount (undisclosed), Anthony Martial (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Raphael Varane (undisclosed), Harry Maguire (undisclosed), Victor Lindelof (thigh)
