Man United lose 3-2 to Brighton at Old Trafford in Carabao Cup on September 17, 2026
Manchester United were beaten 3-2 by Brighton at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup on September 17, 2026, surrendering a two-goal lead and exiting the competition. The defeat came as boos rang around the stadium at the final whistle.
United’s loss was their third defeat of the season and followed Sunday's Premier League reverse to Manchester City, prompting criticism of caretaker coach Michael Carrick. “We had the game exactly where we wanted it and let it get away from us in a big way,” Carrick told Sky Sports. “We can't accept that as a group. I take responsibility for it."
The hosts raced into an early advantage when academy graduate Shea Lacey scored in the eighth minute on his first senior start, and Mason Mount doubled the lead within two minutes. United led 2-0 after 10 minutes through those quickfire goals, but Brighton reduced the deficit in first-half added time when Charalampos Kostoulas finished from a tight angle.
Brighton turned the match around after the break as Pascal Gross created space and scored in the 65th minute, and Maxim De Cuyper poked home the winner four minutes later following a period of sloppy defending. Marcus Rashford had a chance to equalise when through on goal but "couldn't beat keeper Jason Steele when one on one."
The defeat means United have been eliminated from the League Cup at the earliest stage for the second season running after last year's shock exit to fourth-tier Grimsby, a result that occurred under former coach Ruben Amorim, whom Carrick replaced in January. United have won only two of six games in all competitions this season and only once in the Premier League, and jeers from the home fans emphasised the growing unrest around the club. "It doesn't feel good at the moment, let me tell you," Carrick said. "But we can get back to winning football matches and we've got to do a lot of things better. "I totally understand the feelings of the supporters. We have to accept it. I totally accept it. It's on me ultimately, as a team, what we look like, how we play and what results you get. I'll take that. You take the praise. I'll stand here and take the criticism and the upset."
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler praised his side's belief after the comeback, telling ITV Sport: "We were quickly 2-0 behind, but what we had was really the belief to come back." In other Carabao Cup ties, Aston Villa beat Coventry 3-1 with Tammy Abraham scoring twice as newly-promoted Coventry suffered a fifth loss in six games, Charly Alcaraz netted the only goal as Everton beat Wolverhampton, and fourth-tier Fleetwood won 1-0 at Sheffield United.
Manchester United travel to winless Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, September 20, 2026, before the first international break of the season. The fourth-round draw reads: Fleetwood vs. Arsenal; Man City or Norwich vs. Brighton; Everton vs. Newcastle; Sunderland vs. Brentford; Liverpool vs. Chelsea; Bradford vs. Peterborough; Fulham vs. Crystal Palace; Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa, with holder Manchester City to play Norwich on Thursday, September 17, 2026, and the winner set to face Brighton.