Manchester United vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Ronaldo ends goal drought

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his six-game scoreless streak to help Manchester United on their way to a much-needed 2-0 win against 10-man Brighton.

Having blown half-time leads to draw 1-1 in their last three matches, interim boss Ralf Rangnick called for his Jekyll and Hyde side to show their better side in Tuesday evening’s rearranged Premier League encounter.

Those calls fell on deaf ears in the first half as incoherent United were dominated by Brighton, only for a Ronaldo strike and Lewis Dunk red card early in the second half to change the course of the evening.

Manchester United get back to winning ways.

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against 168 different opponents in his career for club and country, while he’s also scored at least once in each of the last 21 calendar years stretching back to 2002.

That victory is enough to send Manchester United back into the top four as they move two points clear of West Ham in fifth and four clear of Arsenal in sixth. Arsenal however have three games in hand on the Red Devils.

Manchester United’s Portuguese stars both found the back of the net as they managed to temper an impressive performance from Brighton at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his goal drought with a lovely solo effort, cutting in from the left past Adam Webster before guiding his effort into the bottom corner.

Bruno Fernandes then sealed the points in added time with a pacey counterattack and equally fine finish that left Robert Sanchez on the floor watching the ball hit the back of his own net.

90+7 mins: Bruno Fernandes seals a much needed win for Manchester United over 10-man Brighton. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the second half with a well worked individual goal but Lewis Dunk’s sending off was probably the game changing moment.

Brighton were unable to put any pressure back on United until the closing minutes when the threw men up the pitch and allowed space in behind for Fernandes’ counterattack. By then the game was all but over and Fernandes made sure it stayed that way.

90+7 mins: A wave of relief erupts around Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes wins a free kick in his own half and Paul Pogba takes it quickly to send the Portuguese flying up the pitch on the counter. He carries the ball into the box, dummies a pass to Ronaldo to sit down the goalkeeper and then guides it into the open goal! Game over.

90+3 mins: You can feel the nerves around Old Trafford. Brighton are controlling the ball despite having 10-men. The home side are dropping off and protecting their own penalty area.

Scott McTominay fouls Yves Bissouma and gives Brighton the chance to flick a free kick into the box. When it does come in Harry Maguire confidently wins it in the air and heads the ball clear.

90 mins: Chance! Man Utd can’t get the ball off Brighton and they work it nicely into the opposition’s final third. Tariq Lamptey curls a great cross into the box and picks out substitute Danny Welback. He leaps in front of Victor Lindelof, wins the header but sends it over the crossbar!

Six minutes of added time to play here.

87 mins: Alexis Mac Allister halts a Manchester United counterattack by bringing down Marcus Rashford. The free kick sees the home side play the ball down the right wing to Diogo Dalot who wins a corner after Yves Bissouma knocks it out of play.

Brighton do well to defend the corner again but they’re under pressure here. United are knocking on the door.