Manchester United’s Brighton defeat raises questions but not yet a crisis

Manchester United’s 3-2 League Cup defeat by Brighton at Old Trafford has brought Michael Carrick’s team back under scrutiny, but the result should not yet be treated as proof that the club’s rebuilding project is failing.

United led 2-0 before losing on Wednesday and are apparently the first side in 50 years to surrender a two-goal advantage in a home defeat at Old Trafford. It was also their third loss in six matches this season, just four months after Carrick guided them to third place in the league and Champions League qualification.

The performance exposed real weaknesses. United became passive after moving two goals ahead, struggled to respond when Brighton seized the initiative and did not have another shot on target until the 76th minute. Carrick accepted responsibility for what happened, but the result also came with several important players unavailable.

Carlos Baleba has yet to make his United debut, while Manuel Ugarte has been sidelined. Matthijs de Ligt has experienced fitness problems and Luke Shaw has also missed matches. Before the Brighton game, Carrick said Baleba’s return was approaching and described the midfielder as a player who could improve the balance and dynamics of the team.

De Ligt had returned to full training, and United expected further players to become available. Their absences make it reasonable to question whether the squad is genuinely as lacking in depth as Wednesday’s collapse suggested.

That does not mean the squad has no weaknesses. The left-back position remains an issue after United did not recruit there during the summer, and injuries have already forced Carrick to change his options. However, identifying shortcomings is different from concluding that the group is not good enough.

Lacey offers a glimpse of another option

Shea Lacey provided one encouraging moment on his full debut. The teenager raced beyond two defenders and finished at the near post to give United the lead, with Mason Mount adding a second goal less than two minutes later.

The subsequent collapse did not lessen the significance of Lacey’s performance. His emergence also raises questions about United’s approach to squad building. If the club still has concerns about depth after investing heavily in its squad, another January shopping spree may not be the only answer. Some solutions may already be at Carrington.

That does not mean placing half a dozen teenagers into the Champions League without protection. It means giving promising young players sufficient trust to become established members of the squad, rather than treating them as temporary cover until an experienced player returns.

United have consistently presented the academy as central to the club’s identity. Carrick now has the chance to make that principle meaningful in his team.

His role has also changed since last season. He was previously the manager who halted the decline; now he must show that he can construct something lasting. Those are different responsibilities, particularly when he is managing a match schedule that comes every few days.

The case for removing Carrick should therefore wait until United have seen what this squad can do at full strength. Baleba must regain fitness, Ugarte return to contention, De Ligt stay fit and the new signings be given time to settle. Carrick must also demonstrate that he can rotate, adapt and develop the group.

The Brighton defeat was a serious warning. Losing 3-2 after leading 2-0 is a problem, but it is not conclusive evidence that everything at Manchester United is broken.