Erik: We still have a way to go

A stoppage-time penalty, converted by Alexis Mac Allister, condemned the Reds to a defeat that was tough to take on the south coast, having been seconds away from gaining another point in the battle for a place in the Premier League’s top-four positions.

The defeat also halts United’s recent unbeaten run in the Premier League, with Ten Hag’s side recording four wins and a draw in our five games prior to arriving at the Amex Stadium. 

With that form in mind, Erik was keen to remain focused on the bigger picture during his post-match press conference in the immediate aftermath of the encounter in Brighton, reiterating the recent progress his team have made and the lessons that have to be learned along the way.

“The last five games until tonight, we had four wins and one draw,” the boss explained to reporters.

“So, I think we were in a good run. And I think we are improving. 

“As you see also today, if you see [the] first half, we should have gone up [in the game], we didn't do, but we created our chances. 

“So, we still have a way to go, [we need to] be more clinical and then we have to stay focused until the end of the game.”

Ten Hag also dismissed any suggestions that fatigue had a part to play in the loss on Thursday night, as a result of the Reds’ busy fixture schedule. 

United have played 56 games now across all competitions and will have featured 62 times come the end of the season, following June 3’s season-closing FA Cup final.

“I've seen our physical output [in the] last [few] games and still we're going to higher levels,” Erik responded on the subject.

“We are performing really well, and we [have] improved during the season, but especially in the last part of the season, we are still going up [in those physical levels].”

Game no.57 comes away to West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday evening (19:00 BST), as the Reds look to get back to winning ways following the midweek disappointment.