Brighton and Hove Albion made sure of Premier League football next season with two games to spare after a Pascal Gross goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Manchester United on Friday.

The German forward headed home a Jose Izquierdo cross in the 57th minute as Brighton dominated the contest.

Only a string of good saves by United keeper David de Gea denied the home side a bigger win.

The result lifted Brighton into 11th place on 40 points from 36 matches and left them assured of finishing above the bottom three.

They visit champions Manchester City on Wednesday before their final game away to Liverpool.

Marcus Rashford and unsettled forward Anthony Martial got a rare start together for second-placed United but failed to make any impact.

The visitors looked disjointed and bereft of ideas, with their final pass going astray all evening.

Brighton defender Bruno told Sky Sports after the match: “It’s almost four seasons with Chris Hughton.

“We’ve been working with that shape of the back four. It’s not just one or two players, it’s how we play as a team.

“That was Anthony Knockaert’s best performance this year in the Premier league. I’m expecting more from him.”

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaking to Sky Sports after the match said: “It was not good enough.

“The players that replaced others did not perform at a good level and when individuals do that it is difficult for the team to play well.

“Maybe now you will not ask me why A, B and C do not play so much. I knew what was going to happen and I told them, but that is what we got.

“The attitude from the first minute and especially in the first half, they had more appetite. I did not succeed in persuading my players that getting four more points is important.

“It is for me, but perhaps not for them.

“I wouldn’t say disappointed. I know them. I thought that the possibility to start the game and give reason would give them something.

“You have the answer now when you ask ‘why always Lukaku?’. We are probably not as good as people think we are individually.”