Manchester United endured a disappointing 3-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday, a day marked by tributes to club legend Denis Law.
Tottenham’s struggles also persisted with a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Everton, while Nottingham Forest continued their unexpected title pursuit with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton.
While Forest’s win brought Nuno Espírito Santo’s side level on points with second-placed Arsenal and six points behind league leaders Liverpool, Manchester United’s campaign remains a stark contrast.
United now sit 24 points adrift of the top spot, battling for stability rather than contention, as Brighton secured their third consecutive league win at Old Trafford.
Despite signs of resurgence after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and an FA Cup upset over Arsenal, United’s inconsistency was laid bare. Amad Diallo’s late hat-trick salvaged a midweek 3-1 win over bottom-placed Southampton, but against Brighton, the team’s defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed.
Kaoru Mitoma provided the assist for Yankuba Minteh to open the scoring just five minutes into the game. Bruno Fernandes equalized for United with a penalty before halftime, offering hope for the home crowd.
However, Mitoma struck again in the second half to restore Brighton’s lead, and a mistake by United goalkeeper Andre Onana allowed Georginio Rutter to seal the win with a third goal.
Brighton’s victory moved them up to ninth in the table, narrowing the gap to the top four to just four points. Manchester United, on the other hand, remain in 13th place but maintain a 10-point buffer from the relegation zone.
“We can’t be comfortable in thinking that this is ok, because it is not,” said Fernandes.
“I’m not here to lose games and be in the position we are in at the moment.”
Before the match, Manchester United paid heartfelt tributes to club legend Denis Law, who passed away on Friday at the age of 84.
Law, the only Scottish player to ever win the Ballon d’Or, remains a towering figure in the club’s history as its third-highest scorer, with an impressive 237 goals in 404 appearances.
The ceremony was a poignant moment at Old Trafford. A piper played the Scottish national anthem, “Flower of Scotland,” as the players took to the field. United legends Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Kidd, Paddy Crerand, and Alex Stepney joined the occasion, standing solemnly on the pitch as a eulogy in Law’s honor was read out over the stadium tannoy.
The moving tribute underscored the lasting legacy of one of football’s greats and his immeasurable impact on Manchester United and beyond.
Tottenham’s struggles continue
ottenham’s winless streak in the Premier League extended to six games as Everton secured a crucial 3-2 victory, boosting their survival hopes under David Moyes in his second stint as manager.
Everton, struggling for goals recently, had failed to score in nine of their previous 11 league matches but managed to find the net three times in the first half. Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke his scoring drought with his first goal since September, followed by a dazzling solo effort from Iliman Ndiaye. Spurs’ woes deepened when Archie Gray’s own goal added to their deficit.
Despite late strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, Tottenham couldn’t complete a comeback, suffering their 12th loss in 22 league games. The defeat leaves Spurs searching for answers as their season continues to unravel.
“It is a challenging situation for sure, when you are losing players the amount we are at the moment,” said under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who was without 10 first-team regulars.
“It’s up to me to get us out of it and I’ve got to be good enough to do that.”
Everton moved four points clear of the relegation zone and edged closer to mid-table, sitting just four points behind 15th-placed Tottenham.
Nottingham Forest delivered a dominant first-half performance to bolster their push for a Champions League spot, narrowing the gap at the top of the Premier League table. Goals from Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Chris Wood before halftime gave Forest a commanding lead.
Southampton fought back in the second half, with Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu finding the net to restore some pride. However, they remain rooted to the bottom of the table, 10 points away from safety, and appear destined for an immediate return to the Championship.
Meanwhile, Manchester City dropped to eighth following Saturday’s results but could climb level with fourth-placed Newcastle if they secure victory later against Ipswich.
