Manchester United pay the price for not addressing priority position in Brighton defeat

Manchester United must have hoped this season had closed the book on last season. Already it feels like an extension of the same chapter with another defeat in added time.

After Arsenal, Fulham and Chelsea gave United a dosage of their own Fergie Time medicine, Brighton are the latest. This was reminiscent of the chaos that engulfed United in Erik ten Hag's second campaign when they shipped 20 goals in the 80th minute and beyond. Brighton inflicted an added-time loss on United two seasons ago, too.

United's performance peaked in the first half. They ended that behind and when they did equalise on the hour it was against the run of play. If the victory over Fulham was a performance to build on, United have already crumbled.

Ten Hag's in-game management will be scrutinised again. Their midfield left their back four exposed too often again. Kobbie Mainoo appears overburdened after a taxing nine months and the cumbersome Casemiro continues to start by default. Both somehow played out the full duration.

That is on United's hierarchy as much as Ten Hag, for they have still not reinforced the central midfield, which had to be prioritised. The need for Manuel Ugarte is more urgent now.

Beyond Mainoo, that department is shambolic. Ten Hag instead turned to Scott McTominay on possibly his farewell appearance. Antony arrived even later and his only impact was to concede a free-kick. Christian Eriksen has as much matchday involvement as a mascot.

There is possibly another injury for United to contend with, too. Mason Mount made way at the interval and his replacement, Joshua Zirkzee, was a goal-stopper rather than goalscorer.

Ten Hag will dwell on Amad's chance at 0-0 and Zirkzee's fateful intervention at 1-1. For the second