Manchester United have now benefited from 68 own goals in the Premier League
Manchester United moved up to their highest Premier League position in two months as they beat Brighton to go seventh.
Andreas Pereira's first goal of the season set them on their way to a fifth win in six games.
After a long VAR check, Davy Propper's own goal doubled United's advantage before half-time, with Marcus Rashford responding almost immediately after Lewis Dunk had pulled a goal back for Brighton.
Rashford should have had another but inexplicably fired Daniel James' cross wide of an open goal.
Brighton keeper Mat Ryan saved from James and Brazilian midfielder Fred, who was outstanding, before denying what would have been a memorable solo effort from Anthony Martial in the latter stages.
The result was United's biggest home Premier League triumph since August and, after their 3-0 win over Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday, was also the first time they had scored six in two games since March.
The victory came at a cost, though, as midfielder Scott McTominay had to be carried down the tunnel on a stretcher after falling awkwardly.
It was a familiar story for Brighton, who have never won at Old Trafford and never looked like breaking that sequence once Pereira had struck.
Ole's faith in youth
Two years ago, respective managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Graham Potter were operating in very different surroundings.
Solskjaer had been managing Molde against Kristiansund in the Norwegian League, while Potter was competing in Sweden's equivalent for Ostersunds FK against Jonkopings Sodra.
Potter has been having a better time of it than Solskjaer this season but amid a number of disappointing results, the United boss was getting credit for the number of youngsters he has put his faith in this season.
Today was another example, with a side that with an average age of 23 years and 350 days was United's youngest since a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in May 2017.
With skipper Ashley Young suspended, Solskjaer picked 19-year-old Brandon Williams for his full Premier League debut rather than rely on the experience of Marcos Rojo, who had performed well in Thursday's Europa League win against Partizan Belgrade.
Williams' presence meant Harry Maguire's selection as skipper ahead of David de Gea was almost overlooked. The standing ovation the youngster received at the end proof Solskjaer had been right with his choice.
Fred reborn
Brazilian midfielder Fred has been heavily criticised since his £47m move from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018.
Many have questioned whether he has the ability to be a United player and there has been suggestions former manager Jose Mourinho only agreed to his arrival because he was desperate for midfield reinforcements and feared if Fred did not move to Old Trafford, he would get no-one.
Even Solskjaer has seemed uncertain about Fred's capabilities.
Yet, almost from nowhere, he has turned into a central figure.
For the first time for United, he has started five successive Premier League games and this performance - efficient and energetic - was one of his best.
It was Fred who gently coaxed teenager Williams forward in the early moments of his first top-flight start. It was Fred who found midfield partner McTominay with an impudent back-heeled pass and Fred who sought advice from coach Kieran McKenna during a break in play, showing that his grasp of English is better than some would have you believe.
He might have had his first goal of the season too had Brighton keeper Ryan not fumbled his long-range shot onto the bar after half-time.
Brighton still find the big six tough
Inside the Brighton camp, they feel strongly that the decision to sack Chris Hughton at the end of last season has been vindicated, even if it was criticised externally.
Potter has installed a passing game which is more fluid and better to watch than what went before.
In the whole of 2018-19, they managed 216 sequences of 10 or more passes, an average of 5.7 per game. Before their trip to Old Trafford, they had already registered 119 such sequences this season, an average of 10.8 per match and taking them from 17th to seventh best in the division in that particular metric.
Yet points are the only real currency in the harsh arena of Premier League combat and, for Brighton, trips to the 'big six' remain a problem.
Under Hughton, 11 such visits over the past two seasons ended in defeat - a single draw at Arsenal on 5 May breaking the sequence. So far this term, it's three defeats from visits to Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, and no points and a single goal to show for Brighton's efforts.
This failure meant Brighton were unable to claim the victory that would have taken them fifth, a position which would have represented the highest spot they had occupied in their history.
Man of the match - Fred (Manchester United)
The Brazilian midfielder led the way for United in terms of passes with 47, of which 78.7% were accurate.What's next?
Brighton's next game is against top-four contenders Leicester City at Amex Stadium on 23 November (15:00 GMT). Manchester United play at Sheffield United the following day (16:30 GMT).
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Man Utd
1de Gea
29Wan-Bissaka
2Lindelöf
5Maguire
53WilliamsBooked at 58minsSubstituted forRojoat 90+1'minutes
39McTominaySubstituted forat 90+6'minutes
17Fred
21James
15PereiraSubstituted forLingardat 70'minutes
10RashfordBooked at 45minsSubstituted forGreenwoodat 90+1'minutes
9Martial
Substitutes
4Jones
8Mata
14Lingard
16Rojo
22Romero
26Greenwood
37Garner
Brighton
1Ryan
22MontoyaBooked at 30minsSubstituted forMarchat 45'minutes
5DunkBooked at 19mins
4Duffy
33BurnBooked at 45mins
46Alzate
24PröpperBooked at 74mins
6StephensBooked at 5mins
11TrossardSubstituted forGroßat 59'minutes
7Maupay
44ConnollySubstituted forMurrayat 45'minutes
Substitutes
13Groß
14Balogun
17Murray
18Mooy
20March
21Schelotto
27Button
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
73,556
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamBrighton
Possession
Home43%
Away57%
Shots
Home21
Away6
Shots on Target
Home11
Away2
Corners
Home5
Away2
Fouls
Home10
Away14
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Manchester United 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Posted at 90'+6'
Scott McTominay went off injured after Manchester United had used all subs.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'
Substitution, Manchester United. Marcos Rojo replaces Brandon Williams.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'
Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Greenwood replaces Marcus Rashford.
Posted at 90'
Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Anthony Martial following a fast break.
Posted at 86'
Attempt saved. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 86'
Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Steven Alzate (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 85'
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 83'
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Dale Stephens tries a through ball, but Pascal Groß is caught offside.
Posted at 80'
Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Harry Maguire (Manchester United).
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 79'
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Mat Ryan (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 75'
Attempt blocked. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott McTominay.
Posted at 75'
Attempt blocked. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
BookingPosted at 74'
Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Posted at 74'
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 72'
Attempt saved. Daniel James (Manchester United) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Rashford with a cross.
Posted at 72'
Attempt saved. Brandon Williams (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Andreas Pereira.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Daniel James following a fast break.
Goal!Posted at 66'
Goal! Manchester United 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
Goal!Posted at 64'
Goal! Manchester United 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 64'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Scott McTominay.
Posted at 63'
Attempt saved. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Steven Alzate with a headed pass.
Posted at 61'
Attempt saved. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 61'
Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Daniel James following a fast break.
SubstitutionPosted at 59'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pascal Groß replaces Leandro Trossard.
BookingPosted at 58'
Brandon Williams (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 57'
VAR Decision: No card change Brandon Williams (Manchester United).
Posted at 57'
Steven Alzate (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 57'
Foul by Brandon Williams (Manchester United).
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Source: bbc.com