Manchester United lost to Brighton in the Carabao Cup, squandering a two-goal lead at Old Trafford and drawing criticism for their performance under manager Michael Carrick. The match marked the first time since 1976 that United lost at home after taking a two-goal lead. The Red Devils had started strongly with goals from academy product Shea Lacey and Mason Mount, giving them a commanding lead in the 10th minute. United had won 143 of the previous 145 home matches in which they went two goals ahead.
Lacey scored his first senior goal for United on his first full start with a well-taken effort that initially gave United confidence. Mount added a second goal shortly after Lacey’s, sending the home crowd into celebration and briefly lifting spirits. However, United’s defense began to struggle as Brighton pressed harder and worked their way back into the match.
Brighton pulled one back through Charalampos Kostoulas just before halftime, setting up a tense and ultimately disappointing second half. The Seagulls continued to press after the break and eventually equalized through Pascal Gross, who calmly slotted home. A substitute, Maxim De Cuyper, scored the winner for Brighton shortly after, and boos rang out at full time.
Carrick made eight changes to the lineup and Diogo Dalot was among the players who kept their place, according to Sky Sports. Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro were part of a young back line that struggled as Brighton scored three unanswered goals. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos started together in midfield, but United lost control after their early burst.
Bruno Fernandes, who was named the PFA Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, started on the bench and entered in the 73rd minute. Carrick’s side had only managed two competitive wins this season before the Brighton match. One was a 5-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town and the other was a 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah. The loss to Brighton was the latest in a string of poor results that have raised questions about Carrick’s leadership and the club’s direction.
United had already suffered a controversial loss to Manchester City just days earlier, adding to the growing frustration among fans. City won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour. The club’s recent struggles have been compounded by internal issues, including a youth star expressing interest in leaving the academy. The player is 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who has asked Manchester United to cancel his registration so he can leave the club.
Carrick has acknowledged the criticism but insists he is not under pressure and remains focused on turning things around. He said the team has good players and believes they can still recover from this slump. Carrick also took responsibility for the Brighton defeat and said United could not accept the way they played after going 2-0 ahead.
However, fans and pundits alike are questioning whether Carrick’s tenure is sustainable given the club’s current trajectory. United’s next match is away against Fulham on Sunday, September 20. Carrick said United need to return to winning football matches after taking only four points from their first four Premier League games.
The loss to Brighton was especially painful because United had been 2-0 ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. United’s performance in this match was widely seen as a reflection of deeper issues within the squad and leadership. The club added players including Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos during the summer, but the rotated lineup could not protect its early lead against Brighton. Both midfielders joined United in July.
United also went out of both domestic cups without winning a round last season. Reuters reported that it was the first time since the 1981-82 season that the club failed to win a round in either domestic cup. Carrick’s job is under scrutiny due to recent poor results, and he must deliver results quickly to avoid further criticism. The club’s supporters made their frustration clear with loud boos after the final whistle.
This latest defeat adds to the growing list of disappointments that have defined United’s campaign under Carrick. The pressure is different from last season when Carrick took over on an interim basis and led United to a third-place Premier League finish. He was given the permanent job in May after that turnaround. The Fulham match now gives United an immediate chance to respond to the cup defeat.
IMAGE: Manchester United v Arsenal (3-2), Premier League, Old Trafford, Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, 2 December 2021. Photo: Ardfern / Wikimedia, taken 2021-12-02, CC BY-SA 4.0