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.”
Salah's contract 'up to him and the club', says Slot
Arne Slot has asserted Mohamed Salah’s future is “up to him and the club”.
The Liverpool star has yet to make a decision on whether to renew his contract, and as it stands, will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
Salah remains a key player for the Reds, and leads the club for Premier League goals (seven) and assists (five) this term.
He scored the winner in the 72nd minute to complete Liverpool’s comeback against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, as they moved to the top of the table.
And despite the question marks over Salah's future, Slot is not concerned.
"[His future] is not what I think about. The only thing I think about is he is so important for us. Scores important goals, works hard for the team," the Liverpool boss told TNT Sports.
"I’m hoping he can enjoy that feeling many, many, many more times. Especially if I’m here but also if I’m not here. I’m hoping he can do this many more times.
"He’s been incredible for Liverpool over the past eight years. He’s been incredible for us this season and I hope he can continue doing this for the rest of the season and maybe longer to come, but that’s up to him and the club to find the idea about the future."
Salah could be in for a historic night on Tuesday when Liverpool face Bayer Leverkusen, having scored in each of his last five Champions League appearances at Anfield.
The last player to score in six consecutive home games in the competition for an English club was Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United in April 2003.
Salah sparked renewed talk over his future after posting on Instagram on Sunday, saying that the feeling of scoring at Anfield would remain unforgettable “no matter what happens.”
But Slot was keen to quash any deeper meaning in the post.
"I haven’t spoken to him about that. You interpreted it in a way that maybe other people don’t," he told the press.
"I don’t look at Instagram posts of my players, I only talk to them which you can’t, which is the advantage I have.
"Mo is in a very good place at the moment. As long as he has been at Liverpool, he has been in a very good place, but this season again as well. I am hoping he will make a post after tomorrow and on Saturday again. What he said with that, that is not important.
"For me what is important is how he plays and what he tells me when we have conversations. That is what matters and not how you guys interpret one of his posts."
Neymar suffers fresh injury blow
Neymar sustained a new injury as he was forced off during Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite win over Esteghlal.
Aleksandar Mitrovic plundered a hat-trick on Monday to seal a 3-0 win.
But Al-Hilal's victory was soured by an injury to Neymar, who had to make way just 29 minutes after he came on as a second-half substitute.
The Brazilian, who has just returned from over a year out of action following a serious knee injury, was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh issue.
Indeed, Monday's appearance was only the 32-year-old's second for Al-Hilal since his comeback.
He has featured just seven times for the Saudi Pro League champions in all competitions since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
Rodgers delighted as Celtic rout Aberdeen in semi-final
Celtic booked their place in the Scottish League Cup final after hammering Aberdeen 6-0 at Hampden Park on Saturday.
The 21-time winners of the tournament were inspired by a Daizen Maeda hat-trick in a near-perfect performance against the Scottish Premiership's second-placed side.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was delighted with the result and performance from his side.
"It was a testament to our players and the demands they have. They play every week in big games. We have to manage this group through every game," he told Premier Sports.
"It was up to us to decide the game and the players did that. They were brilliant today. We were more aggressive in the second half.
"Aberdeen have had an excellent season, they will continue to work well I'm sure."
The result was Aberdeen's first defeat in 17 matches in all competitions this season, with a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park last month the only time they had previously failed to win.
Cameron Carter-Vickers got the scoring under way with a header 29 minutes in, before the brilliant Maeda sat down goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov to set up Kyogo Furuhashi for a second three minutes later.
Maeda then got in on the act himself on 40 minutes before the game briefly descended into farce on the stroke of half-time, with Rodgers shown a yellow card for kicking away a ball that had gone out before slipping over.
"To be fair, I was raging because we had given the ball away," he said.
"I have my moments, like every manager. It was just the game, even though we were comfortable at 3-0.
"It was a deserved yellow card. The speed of the ball [was the issue]. I just wanted to keep the tempo of the game."
Celtic and Maeda picked up where they left off in the second half to make it 4-0 in the 50th minute before Nicolas Kuhn hammered in a fifth on the hour.
The rout was complete when Maeda wrapped up his hat-trick as he finished off a flowing attacking move with five minutes to go.
After the match, Rodgers continued to be effusive about his team, who will face either Rangers or Motherwell in the final.
"An outstanding team performance. You come up against a team that has been so, so good. We knew it would be a challenge," he told BBC Scotland.
"We had to bring our A-game and the players did that, in particular during the second half.
"We were ruthless. We worked the ball really well to create the space and made good runs.
"It's a beautiful pitch here at Hampden. It's perfect for the football we want to play."
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