Manchester United are once again a force to be reckoned as they show grit and determination
United may be a very different side to the Fergie era, but there is a similar refusal to give in which is why they sit second in the table.
SO Manchester United grind out a 1-0.
Meanwhile, this Spurs team that has won so much praise draw at home to West Brom and Mauricio Pochettino gives up on the title.
The Jurgen Klopp revolution, all hugs and ridiculous over-the-top celebrations, falls short at home.
Champions Chelsea put in a cross and get a share of the points at Anfield.
But wasn’t their approach very defensive? Just the sort that Jose Mourinho was criticised for on his visit to Anfield.
Then we all look at the Premier League table and United head to Watford tomorrow as the only team that looks capable of overcoming Manchester City.
A team and manager unfairly accused of betraying the traditions of their club.
United have put in plenty of performances like Saturday’s win over Brighton down the years. But it was those performances that won the leagues and cups.
Victories when they were not playing quite so well.
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The main reason United won so much under Sir Alex Ferguson was their sheer will to get the job done.
It was their refusal to give in — even when it was not happening during the 90 minutes.
Their knowledge that even when the ball was not flowing between Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and David Beckham a tough game could still be won, somehow.
United did not play well on at Old Trafford on Saturday and still won.
Like the teams under Fergie they showed a heart and determination to get over the line.
Witness the final minute of normal time in this game. Brighton were mounting an assault to get a point but Romelu Lukaku snatched the ball and broke away.
His second touch was a shocker and he lost control.
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So what did he do. Did he put his hands by his sides and raise his head to the skies and leave the problem to somebody else.
No, he sprinted 50 yards back down the left flank to retrieve the situation — and did so with a tackle on Bruno.
Red Devils boss Mourinho said: “In the last minute he was fighting and running back like he was in the first minute so I think it is also a mentality question.
"The way Romelu wins the corner for the goal, the way he ends the game making tackles in the left-back position, that’s the mentality I want.
“And, unfortunately, not every player is the same.
“Players are men, men are different. Men are unique cases.
“Some guys are capable to go into the limits of their efforts and some others guys, even with a lot of talent, they don’t manage to do that — so Romelu for me fantastic.
“He didn’t score. I don’t care.”
It was that Lukaku moment late in the game that made Mourinho break into applause.
It is that spirit that has United second in the table while all around are questioning where the flair is.
There was much confusion about the corner that lead to the winning goal.
Should it have been a United corner at all?
Lukaku made a nuisance of himself but did the final touch come off the big Belgian forward? Or did it come off Brighton’s Solly March?
The most detailed replay showed that the linesman did in fact get it right.
From the corner in the 66th minute, Ashley Young’s shot deflected in off Lewis Dunk to breach a brilliant Brighton defence and win the game.
Mourinho threw everything at them from an array of attacking talent that only neighbours City can rival.
The visitors blocked their passage to goal time and again. Until that moment.
Lucky? Yes, but this United team do not give up.
There have been two games this season when you could seriously question them in my opinion.
At Basel on Wednesday — when they took their foot off the gas in the second half.
Then there was the defeat at Huddersfield, when they were inexplicably not at the races.
No, they didn’t make a classic out of the 0-0 at Anfield but neither did Liverpool.
At Chelsea they were second best but not hammered as it took a cracking Alvaro Morata header to split the sides.
This United team is a force again. A different one, with different players who may not draw you to the edge of your seat like great names of the past.
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Unfortunately for the club it has re-emerged as a force at a time when Manchester City have the perfect combination of coach and players.
Mourinho has not betrayed any history, institutions or traditions.
He has got the club back to where they needed to be — challenging, winning trophies, as he did with the EFL Cup and the Europa League last season.
It is time for people to realise that the job he is doing is a good one, a very good one.
The spirit that was lost after Sir Alex, he has rediscovered.
That means even on days like Saturday, when it is a slog against a very well-organised team, they found a way.