United 4 – 3 Brighton
Momentum building, still fragile underneath
Back-to-back league wins finally arrived at Anfield, Amorim’s first, and in that place of all venues. The passion was raw, the players united, the fanbase genuinely believing again. Coming into Brighton at home, it was about finding a third consecutive win and proving this wasn’t another false dawn. We’ve suffered too many of those before, and Brighton has been one of those teams that always seem to expose our gaps.
Lineups and early intent
Maguire missed out completely with a knock, while Mount made the bench. Amorim started Sesko up top with Cunha and Mbeumo as dual tens. Dalot played left wing-back, Amad right, De Ligt central in a back three alongside Shaw and Yoro, with Lammens in goal. The shape looked brave, aggressive; more so than what we saw at Anfield where United were compact and reactive. Here, the message was clear: don’t just absorb, play our football.
Bright start and denied penalty
The opening stages were lively, end-to-end, but Brighton enjoyed plenty of possession as United’s midfield occasionally drifted too open. Even so, United carried purpose. Mbeumo slipped through Amad, who went down inside the Brighton box, penalty all day, but Anthony Taylor waved it away. Frustration aside, United’s right side looked sharp. Amad and Mbeumo combined well, Sesko linked play neatly and felt smoother on the ball than before. It all hinted at confidence flowing again.
Cunha’s moment and United’s heartbeat
Then came the lift. In the 24th minute, Casemiro picked a perfect pass for Cunha, who placed a beautiful finesse finish into the bottom right corner from outside the box, his first for United. Pure emotion. He sprinted towards the East Stand, eyes close to tears, every player swarming him. You could feel the connection back in the ground. When Casemiro wrapped his arms around him, it felt more than just a goal, it felt like belief returning to the badge.
Pressing pays off again
Ten minutes later, pressure turned into reward once more. Brighton, stubborn as always trying to play out from the back, got punished. Shaw, operating higher than usual as the left centre-back, pressed hard, recovering the ball nearly 20 yards ahead of halfway. Casemiro shot from distance, it took a heavy deflection, and found the net for 2–0. Amorim’s system encourages bravery, and this was the payoff.
Control, then cracks
Halftime came with Brighton holding about 60 percent of the ball and still the higher xG, but United had the comfort. The midfield remained the main worry, open at times, slow to reset, but the back line held, and momentum stayed red.
Mbeumo seals it… almost
Early in the second half came another example of pressure rewarded. Shaw again surged high, pinning Brighton and forcing mistakes. Dalot fed Sesko, who pulled off a sharp chop and sent Mbeumo racing in behind. A quick dribble, near-post strike, and it was 3–0. The Stretford End erupted. The dance with Amad captured the mood, confident, joyful football returning to Old Trafford.
Familiar nerves return
Then came the wobble. From United’s own corner, Dorgu’s misplaced pass left us exposed. Brighton countered, Minteh was brought down near the box, and Welbeck buried the free kick. Of course it was Welbeck. 3–1. And when Kostoulas headed in a 90+2 corner to make it 3–2, every fan felt the weight of familiar tension again. United were great going forward but still felt fragile in control. Set-piece defending remains a serious weakness.
The killer punch
Thankfully, this side didn’t crumble. As Brighton pushed late, Heaven; one of the lads many want to see start more, picked out a perfect through ball. Bruno cleverly left it, letting Mbeumo run across and slot home his second at 90+6 in front of the Stretford End. 4–2, full-time. Relief and celebration all at once.
Standouts and next fixtures
Cunha rightly took man of the match, though Mbeumo easily deserved a share of it. Special mentions too for Shaw, De Ligt, Amad, and Casemiro. The chemistry, the pressing, the energy; it all looked alive again. But Amorim knows controlling matches still needs work, especially against sides that exploit open spaces and dead-ball deliveries.
Next up: Nottingham Forest away under Sean Dyche. Dyche recently joked on The Overlap that his 4-4-2 could outdo Amorim’s system, Saturday will test those words. Beyond that, eyes slowly turn to January and potential moves, perhaps a midfielder like Elliot Anderson, who United are known to admire.
Until then — YANITED YANITED YANITED.
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
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