Manchester United’s League Cup campaign was over very soon after it got going on Wednesday. The Reds lost 3-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford despite leading 2-0 inside the first 10 minutes of the match.
Manager Michael Carrick, who is already dealing with just four points from the first four Premier League matches, now has one competition struck from the rest of the schedule. He opted to make changes and rotate the side with Fulham waiting at the weekend, but the back four he went
with proved why they’re not first choice at the moment.
The heavy changes in the starting XI seemed to work out well for the Reds early on. Shea Lacey made an impact with the opening goal in the first few minutes, making amends for a red card against the same opposition on his FA Cup debut in January. They followed up with a good series of pressing to force a turnover and a chance just minutes later. Marcus Rashford saw a shot saved, and the rebound bounced up for Mason Mount, who was able to hit it well enough to find the net for 2-0.
That was all within nine minutes, and there wasn’t really another spell of positive play until stoppage time. The visitors slowly took control of the game in the first half to pull one back before the break. It was
The collapse truly began in the second half with some terrible defensive errors. Both fullbacks had bad days in Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, with the latter operating as the makeshift left back. The center back partnership of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven had its moments in recovery, but really struggled to keep track of runners as the Seagulls got forward.
The equalizer came in a moment of pressure for the back four. They seemed to escape the press with passing across the line and Karl Darlow finding Dalot, but the right back hoofed the ball low and central towards Benjamin Sesko. The forward lost out on the 50/50 header, which went straight to Pascal Gross unmarked in front of goal for the easy finish.
Five minutes later, Mazraoui and Heaven were left scrambling to deal with a run down the wing, which turned into a fortunate bounce to a wide open Maxim De Cuyper to put Brighton in front 3-2.
By that point, Carrick had already realized what was happening and prepared new changes with Kobbie Mainoo and Bryan Mbeumo, but also sent on Joshua Zirkzee for an ill-fated cameo that only further demonstrated his inability to play at the top level.
Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha arrived as well, but apart from some late possessions around the box there was little to show for the comeback effort. The Reds were out of the League Cup, and the stakes for Sunday’s trip to face Fulham were even greater.
