Manchester United produced a terrible performance to fall to a fifth consecutive away loss in the Premier League as Brighton and Hove Albion thrashed the Red Devils 4-0 at the Amex Stadium.
Moises Caicedo struck a fine first-half effort beyond David de Gea, but worse was to come for United after half-time as Brighton took advantage of a dismal performance from their visitors.
Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard each scored in quick succession, with the Belgium winger finishing with a goal and two assists.
The result marked a new low in the Red Devils woeful season, with their tally of 56 Premier League goals conceded this term representing their most in a single campaign in the competition s history.
56 Manchester United have conceded 56 goals in the Premier League this season, their most in a single campaign in the competition. Alarming.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Ralf Rangnick opted not to restore fit-again captain Harry Maguire to his defence, which was breached after 15 minutes when Caicedo drilled a brilliant finish into the bottom-left corner from outside the area.
Victor Lindelof was forced into a last-ditch clearance after a flowing move from the dominant hosts, before Danny Welbeck lobbed over the bar after latching onto Raphael Varane s poor touch.
Rangnick introduced Fred and Edinson Cavani after watching his team fail to register a shot on target before the break, but Cucurella then side-footed home from Trossard s 49th-minute cutback.
Brighton ended the game as a contest after 57 minutes when Gross produced a neat left-footed finish after taking Trossard s pass into his stride, and they were in dreamland as the creator turned scorer three minutes later, bundling in from close range after Welbeck s chipped effort.
Brighton almost had a fifth after 65 minutes when Diogo Dalot deflected Alexis Mac Allister s effort against his own post, while Welbeck also narrowly missed the target again as United endured another day to forget – Cavani s consolation ruled out for offside at the other end.
What does it mean? Red Devils confirm worst Premier League showing
United s capitulation saw the positivity of Monday s 3-0 win over Brentford evaporate and confirmed the 2021-22 season will be their worst ever in the Premier League.
With 58 points and just one game remaining, Rangnick s team will finish with their lowest points tally in the competition, unable to match the 64 they earned in 2013-14 under David Moyes and Ryan Giggs.
United stunned again
United have now conceded four or more goals in 12 separate Premier League matches since Alex Ferguson s 2013 retirement, as many as they did in 810 games under him in the competition.
Away-day woes continue
Following up defeats at Manchester City, Everton, Liverpool and Arsenal with another on the road, this is United s worst such run since they lost six away league games in a row between December 1980 and March 1981.
They could yet match that sequence when they go to Crystal Palace on the Premier League s final day.
What s next?
Brighton s penultimate Premier League match sees them travel to Leeds United next Sunday, while United have just one game remaining this term, away at Palace on May 22.