With 43 points in 25 matches, the Red Devils have virtually qualified for the Champions League, to the detriment of West Ham who have 41 with the same number of matches played.
Arsenal, Wolverhampton and Tottenham, who follow at 4, 6 and 7 lengths, but with 2 or 3 games less, remain within reach.
After 3 consecutive matches where they failed to keep the advantage taken in the first half, after a good start, Manchester United seem to have found an unexpected and daring solution: to be bad during the first 45 minutes and to accelerate only after returning from the locker room. .
The whistles that greeted the end of the first act at Old Trafford were well deserved after a soulless performance studded with bad choices and approximations.
The only Mancunian not to deserve the bronca was once again David De Gea, author of an exceptional parade with a header from the Polish Jakub Moder, in the 39th.
Brighton striker Danny Welbeck attempts to lob Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea during Premier League matchday 18 on February 15, 2022 at Old Trafford Paul ELLIS AFP
But the beginning of the second act was of a completely different bill and the match was almost played in 3 minutes.
On a ball recovered high by Scott McTominay, and after a murderous feint, Cristiano Ronaldo, silent since December 30, catapulted the ball into the corner of the Seagulls' goals (1-0, 51st).
In the process, defender Lewis Dunk fouled Anthony Elanga who was going to leave to strike on goal and, after consulting the VAR, the referee gave him a red card (54th).
This did not prevent United from playing with fire, Ronaldo missing two very good chances to kill the match with a header, on offers from Bruno Fernandes (65th, 75th), before Moder, still him, found the bar transverse at the other end of the field (77th).
But after additional time, Bruno Fernandes finally added a second goal (90 + 7) for a success which, failing to dispel doubts, is good for the standings and morale.
© 2022 AFP