Match Report: Man United Vs. Liverpool & Arsenal Vs. Brighton

The United-Liverpool game has produced many surprises over the years, but this wasn’t one of them. The match was a back-and-forth affair with little control, especially in the first half. United struggled with numerous errors in midfield and defence, losing possession repeatedly in their half. As pressure mounted, mistakes multiplied—rash tackles and misplaced passes. United didn’t apply sustained pressure in Liverpool's half until the 70th minute, by which point it was too late.

In contrast, Liverpool were far superior. Their midfield pressed high, improving ball retention and stifling United’s quick transitions. Salah and Diaz were outstanding, with Diaz's world-class finish on the spin sealing his brace. Salah assisted both of Diaz's goals and scored one himself after Mainoo was pinched of the ball. Defensively, Liverpool were mostly untested but faced a busier second half, already holding a commanding 3-0 lead.

Arne Slot's first visit to Old Trafford saw his team dismantle Ten Hag's men. His attackers are firing on all cylinders, supported by a cohesive midfield, while United's midfield is disjointed and lacks harmony. If United don't bounce back with a convincing win against Southampton, Ten Hag could find himself under even more pressure.

Arsenal started energetically, with Saka causing early problems for Hinshelwood, who picked up a quick yellow card. Timber lofted a ball to Saka, who set up Havertz for a first-time lob that gave Arsenal the lead. A year ago, Havertz might have missed that chance, but Arteta’s confidence in him is paying off.

Brighton’s best first-half chances came from their high press, forcing Arsenal into mistakes while playing out from the back. However, the game flipped just after the break when Rice was sent off for a second yellow after kicking the ball away. Brighton immediately capitalized, with Dunk splitting the defence to find Minteh, whose shot forced a save from Raya & Pedro pounced on the rebound to level the score.

Arsenal then sat deep with five at the back, looking to counter. They had two great chances to win, but Saka and Havertz couldn’t convert. Brighton pushed hard for a winner but struggled to break down a resolute Arsenal defence. Given the red card, a draw is a positive result for Arsenal, while Brighton will be frustrated at missing a chance to take all three points.