Old Trafford paid tribute to the goal machine who was known as The King – who died on Friday - ahead of kick off, with former team-mates Alex Stepney, Paddy Crerand and Brian Kidd laying a wreath inside the centre circle, alongside another Reds hero, iconic manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The home faithful would have wallowed in nostalgia, but are facing a grimmer reality after yet another defeat and the most at home since the 1893-1984 season.

Yankuba Minteh had given Brighton an early lead before United levelled through Bruno Fernandes.

And second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georgino Rutter earned the three points for the Seagulls.

United, who recorded just one shot on target, remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table, on course for their worst finish in more than 35 years.

They have also only found the back of the net 27 times in 22 games – the fifth lowest in the division.

And they were the opposite of everything the watching legends were – ponderous, defensively fragile and lacking any sort of gumption up front.

Brighton, meanwhile, continued their impressive run against United as they moved to within three points of the European places.

The Seagulls have won six out of their last seven league games with the Reds, and earned a victory in the last four.

It was no surprise, then, when the visitors went in front courtesy of Minteh. Carlos Baleba played a long ball forward to Mitoma on the left, and he squared it for Minteh who was presented with an easy finish.

Brighton’s fluidity and neat passing play gave United’s fragile backline problems every time they went on the offensive.

It took until the 18th minutes for the hosts to record a shot. Amad Diallo’s trickery found Noussair Mazraoui, who set it up for Fernandes, but the United captain hit his effort wide.

They levelled on 23 minutes after Joshua Zirkzee was hauled down by Baleba and referee Peter Bankes awarded a penalty.

Fernandes stepped up to the spot and sent Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way.

The equaliser seemed to galvanise United, with Diallo so nearly putting his side into the lead.

He latched on to a ball and, in space, tried to go around Verbruggen, but the Dutch stopper made himself big and Diallo’s way through was blocked.

And another opportunity fell their way on the stroke of half time when Fernandes’ free-kick found Harry Maguire in the area, but he headed inches past the post.

Brighton thought they had retaken the lead on 55 minutes through Joao Pedro, but VAR ruled it out after defender Jan Paul van Hecke was adjudged to have fouled Diogo Dalot in the build-up.

But the visitors made amends five minutes later when Minteh found Mitoma deep inside the box and the Japanese international side footed the ball home from close range.

Things went from bad to worse for United on 76 minutes, this time thanks to error-prone goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The Cameroonian had an easy catch to make from Yasin Ayari’s cross, but fumbled it and an unmarked Georgino Rutter guided the ball into the back of the net.

United could have pulled one back as the clock struck close to full time when Leny Yoro headed towards goal, but Verbruggen punched the ball to safety.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said: “We have to acknowledge the moment we are in.

“Everybody is underperforming and it is unacceptable to have lost so many games.

“But we have to continue and there is no other way.

“We are going to suffer but I just want to help the players and we need to change.

“I know we can succeed but we have to survive this moment as I am not naïve."

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said: “The performances for us in the last few weeks even when we got draws, were positive.

“We were mature, we controlled the game and defended quite good.

“We have self-belief and you need to have the right mind set, beside the tactical aspect.”

Manchester United: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, de Ligt; Mazraoui (Antony, 83); Ugarte (Collyer, 63), Mainoo (Garnacho, 63), Dalot; Diallo, Fernandes; Zirkzee (Hojlund, 83).
Substitutes not used: Bayandir, Malacia, Martinez, Casemiro and Eriksen.

Brighton and Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, van Hecke, Estupinan (Lamptey, 83); Baleba (Enciso, 90), Ayari; Minteh (March, 68), Joao Pedro (Gomez, 90), Mitoma; Welbeck (Rutter, 68).
Substitutes not used: Steele, Webster, McConville and Adingra.

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