Manchester United have now conceded more goals this season than they have in any previous Premier League campaign.
Ralf Rangnick's side went into this evening's showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion having shipped 52 goals in the 2021-22 season, two fewer than their previous worst mark of 54 in 2018-19.
However, the Red Devils equalled that unwanted record less than five minutes into the second half at the Amex Stadium, before a quickfire collapse saw them 4-0 down after only an hour.
Moises Caicedo gave Brighton the lead after only 15 minutes, and a spell of three goals in 11 second-half minutes saw the Seagulls take the game away from Man United.
Marc Cucurella got the first of those, before strikes from Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard capped a dream spell for Graham Potter's side.
Rangnick, meanwhile, was left to lament arguably Man United's worst performance of a largely abject campaign which has left them sixth in the Premier League table and now mathematically out of the running for a Champions League spot.
56 - Manchester United have conceded 56 goals in the Premier League this season, their most in a single campaign in the competition. Alarming. pic.twitter.com/95BNpnJO5G
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2022
Man United had only twice previously conceded more than 45 goals in a single Premier League season, while Brighton had only scored four goals in a Premier League game on one previous occasion.
It is also the 12th time that Man United have shipped four goals in a league game in the nine years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired - as many as they did during his entire 810-game tenure in the league.
Only four teams - Southampton, Leeds United, Watford and Norwich City - have conceded more goals than Man United in the Premier League this season.
The Red Devils last conceded more goals in a season in 1978-79, when they shipped 63 and finished ninth in the old First Division.
4 - Manchester United have conceded 4+ goals in 12 Premier League games since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, as many times as they did in 810 Premier League games under Ferguson. Capitulated. pic.twitter.com/sKLkxmcO2e
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2022
Man United are also now guaranteed to end the campaign with their lowest-ever Premier League points tally, while today's result means that they have lost each of their last five away games - their worst such run since March 1981.
The 20-time champions will complete their season away to Crystal Palace on May 22, before incoming manager Erik ten Hag takes the reins this summer.
Barney Corkhill
