Negative record chasing Manchester United prior Brighton clash

Manchester United will be out to avoid equaling an unwanted 49-year-old club record when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Old Trafford for their inaugural fixture of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
Should Man United come out second best against Brighton, it will mark the first time since 1973 that the 20-time English champions have ended one season and started the next with a defeat.
The 2021-22 season ended in dismal fashion for Man United under Ralf Rangnick, who oversaw a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day of the campaign.
Should Man United come out second best against Brighton, it will mark the first time since 1973 that the 20-time English champions have ended one season and started the next with a defeat.
The Red Devils suffered a 1-0 loss to Chelsea on the final day of the 1972-93 First Division campaign before beginning the 1973-74 season with a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury.
The visit of the Seagulls will mark Erik ten Hag's first competitive game in charge of the Red Devils after he was appointed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor earlier in the summer.
Man United fans are still harboring bad memories of the 4-0 thumping inflicted on them at the Amex Stadium by Brighton back in May, but they did secure a 2-0 home win in February.
Furthermore, Man United can take confidence from the fact that they have won 10 of their last 13 opening-day Premier League games and thumped Leeds United 5-1 on matchday one last season.