Manchester United will next face Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup tomorrow.
Man United would be heavily bruised after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City despite playing two-thirds of the contest with a numerical advantage.
They also have a sense of injustice after City earned the three points with a goal that should never have been allowed to stand.
Having said that, United cannot hide behind an officiating blunder as they failed to capitalise on an early red card shown to Phil Foden.
There is little time for United to lick their wounds, with the Carabao Cup providing an immediate opportunity to put their derby disappointment behind them.
The Red Devils suffered a shocking exit in the Carabao Cup second round against Grimsby Town last season.
Standing in their way is one of the best-coached sides in the English top flight, making Brighton a potentially dangerous opponent.
Patrick Dorgu started at left-back against City but delivered an abysmal performance. He can play as a full-back but only against sides that lack the cutting edge in the final third.
We believe head coach Michael Carrick must pull a rabbit out of his hat and turn to an academy star who has been waiting patiently for his opportunity.
Harry Amass should start vs Brighton
Amass is one of the most talented players to have risen from the academy but has failed to win the trust of several club figures.
The 19-year-old was sent out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday in the first half of the 2025-26 season.
He excelled for the Championship outfit before he was recalled and sent to Norwich City for the remainder of the campaign.
Amass featured only once before an injury setback forced him to return to United.
The Red Devils were open to selling him this summer but ultimately declined an offer from Burnley on the deadline day after failing to sign a cover for Luke Shaw.
Dorgu may be capable of filling in at left-back, but Amass has considerably more experience in his natural position.
There are obvious risks to throwing the teenager into such a demanding role, with his physical development still a work in progress and opposition sides likely to target him at set pieces.
However after the Dorgu experiment backfired so spectacularly against City, Carrick cannot afford to repeat the same gamble against the Seagulls.
Amass understands the positioning demands of a left-back far better and also possesses the quality to deliver dangerous crosses from his favoured left foot.
Noussair Mazraoui remains another option, but handing Amass a start could provide the youngster with the confidence boost he needs to establish himself at Old Trafford.
Stats from Fotmob.com