Manchester United's biggest strength is fast becoming a big weakness again

It's official: Manchester United have now had a worse start to this Premier League campaign than the last one.

After being beaten 2-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion and 4-0 by Brentford in their opening two games of last season, it was unimaginable for United to possibly start this term even more sluggishly. But after Brighton put them to the sword at Old Trafford on Saturday, winning 3-1, the Reds have now lost three of their opening five league matches for the first time in the Premier League era.

After starting last season with back-to-back defeats, United responded with four successive victories, meaning they amassed nine points from their first five games. This season, they have taken just six and - at the time of writing - they sit 13th in the table.

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Following another big-money recruitment drive over the summer, United's supporters have every right to be disgruntled with the way their team has started this season. Though the Reds started brightly against the Seagulls, who have now won each of the last four league meetings between the two, the early optimism quickly drained after Danny Welbeck fired the visitors into a 20th-minute lead.

Deploying a new-look diamond in midfield to cover the absences of natural wide players, Erik ten Hag appeared to have pulled off a tactical masterstroke with the way United started the game. They were energised, in control of the ball and knocking on the Brighton door in the opening exchanges.

But as was so often the case when United conceded first last season, albeit not necessarily at Old Trafford, they retreated and invited pressure. The