Manchester United suffer humiliating loss; go bottom of the table

In a major setback, Manchester United suffered a 4-0 thrashing by Brentford on Saturday. This humiliation left the Red Devils to go bottom of the Premier League table. Brighton scored four goals in the first 35 minutes, thereby exposing the weak links in Manchester United’s defence.

This is the first time that United sink to the bottom of the table in 30 years. United also lost a seventh consecutive away league match for the first time since 1936. That run included shipping four goals at Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton last season. This loss is also a disappointing result for newly appointed Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, playing his second EPL match.

Ten Hag did recall Cristiano Ronaldo to the starting line-up. But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could not play to his potential and played a wrong part in the opening goal. Ronaldo went to the ground too easily seeking a foul. He was surrounded by Brentford bodies. Dasilva’s shot should still have been a comfortable save for goalkeeper De Gea, but the ball passed underneath the Spaniard.

United did stop the goal flow after the first half. They should have had at least one consolation as Ronaldo looped a header over, but Eriksen’s header lacked the power to beat David Raya. The damage, though, was long since done for Ten Hag.