Christian Eriksen rued Manchester United’s all too familiar inability to take their chances as a concerning start to the campaign continued with the home defeat to Brighton.
Erik ten Hag’s first season may have been promising but his second term has got off to a poor start, with off-field issues compounded by poor performances on the pitch.
Having been unconvincing in the home wins against Wolves and Nottingham Forest, United’s 31-game unbeaten home run in all competitions came to a shuddering halt on Saturday.
The 3-1 loss to Brighton followed on from defeats at Tottenham and Arsenal, meaning the Red Devils have lost three of their opening five matches for the first time in the Premier League era.
“I think we started very strong, very much front footed and we surprised them a bit with our game plan,” midfielder Eriksen said.
“Then obviously when they score from the first chance they have it makes them a lot easier and for us we have to go forward.
“After that, I think we lost a bit of the momentum. I thought we had it back with a goal just before half-time. But then we didn’t have the little luck or the clinical part to get back and then it’s difficult.”
Former United man Danny Welbeck put Brighton ahead at Old Trafford, before Marcus Rashford saw a shot deflected onto the woodwork and full debutant Rasmus Hojlund had a goal ruled out by the VAR.
United lost their way after that point, with Pascal Gross and substitute Joao Pedro scoring before Hannibal Mejbri’s thumping consolation effort.
“You have to (fight),” Eriksen said of the team’s mindset when the hosts were trailing by three goals.
“Already before that I think we were trying to come back and we were trying to be offensively (dangerous).
“Obviously how they play there’s a lot of a lot of running from our side and I feel like they have a lot of extra passes, but in the end I still think we had enough chances to come back but we just didn’t take them.
“It’s been like this, the season so far. I think if we change that, I think a lot of the games will be a lot easier to play.”
If United put in a similarly toothless, lax display in Wednesday’s Champions League group stage opener then things could get far uglier.
Ten Hag’s men open Group A away to perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, whose side are spearheaded by Eriksen’s former Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane.
“There’s a lot of games coming up now – every three or four days, there’ll be a new game,” the 31-year-old Denmark international told MUTV.
“So now our focus will definitely be on Bayern (from Monday) when people have recovered from the game.
“It’s going to be a very tough game, but every game is different, so it’ll be good to start from 0-0 and get something back.”
Brighton also now turn their attention to European matters and a historic clash with AEK Athens.
The soaring Seagulls have never played in continental cup competitions before and open their Europa League campaign against the Greek side on Thursday.
Roberto De Zerbi’s outfit head into the match in fine form and Brighton striker Welbeck says they do not fear anyone.
“He’s instilled that confidence and everywhere we go we want to get the three points, if it’s at home, if it’s away,” he said.
“We set up well. We know if we play to our best then we can beat anybody and today was no different. We prepared really well for the game and got the three points.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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