Manchester United go to Wembley on Sunday to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-finals, still hoping for a domestic double in 2022-23.
The winner of Saturday’s other semi-final between Manchester City and Sheffield United will face the winner of Sunday’s showpiece encounter, as the Red Devils look to avoid a pair of quick knockout eliminations following a dismal night in Seville.
While playing on Premier League grass will live long in the memory of the Grimsby Town players, a cruel Brighton side terminated the Mariners’ dream in the quarter-finals with a brutal 5-0 hammering, and breaking the Mariners’ Wembley hoodoo is first on Roberto De Zerbi’s to-do list.
The Seagulls have visited the iconic stadium five times and have failed to secure a single win, losing four and drawing once, a 2-2 draw with Man United in the original 1982-83 final before a 4-0 replay loss – but given Man United’s predicament, some may consider De Zerbi’s goal-happy crop the favourites for Sunday’s semi-final.
Prior to teaching Grimsby a lesson, Brighton dethroned previous champions Liverpool, as well as Stoke City and Middlesbrough, to reach their first FA Cup semi-final since the 2018-19 season, when they were defeated 1-0 by eventual winners Manchester City.
While FA Cup success would provide a path to the Europa League, Brighton remains in the fight in the Premier League thanks to a deserved 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend, which followed an unfair 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Brighton go to Wembley with the wind in their sails after scoring in each of their past nine games across all competitions, and taking a page out of Sevilla’s book should lead to a pleasant day for fans in blue and white.
Despite a pair of defensive disaster lessons from David de Gea and Harry Maguire, Sevilla were well deserving of their 3-0 second-leg triumph on Thursday night, as Youssef En-Nesyri profited on two horrible blunders either side of Loic Bade’s shoulder finish.
Erik ten Hag made no apologies for his team’s dismal performance in Seville, even saying that his injury-ravaged squad was “not ready” for the game as hopes of a continental crown faded, but the possibility of repeating Liverpool’s EFL Cup and FA Cup twice from last year remains very much alive.
While Wembley is a neutral location this weekend, a record of two victories in their previous six away from home does not bode well for the travelling fans, whose team has failed to score in their last three defeats on foreign ground.
Alternatively, an immediate response to Thursday’s heartbreaking loss could see Manchester United reach their 21st FA Cup semi-final – matching Arsenal’s all-time record – and Brighton have not beaten the Red Devils in five FA Cup matches, but gaining their last two Premier League games towards them means the Albion faithful can dream.
Team News- Manchester United
Ten Hag’s defensive issue will be complicated by their lack of Harry Maguire, who is suspended for the semi-final after receiving his second FA Cup yellow card of the season in their tumultuous win over Fulham.
With Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Raphael Varane (ankle) out, Victor Lindelof should be joined by Luke Shaw, albeit the Englishman was not moving well at the conclusion of the second leg against Sevilla and will require a check-up.
On a more positive note, Bruno Fernandes has returned from his Europa League suspension, while Marcus Rashford was healthy enough for a second-half cameo in Seville and could now be considered for a start over Jadon Sancho.
Team News- Brighton
Brighton’s last success at Stamford Bridge came at a great cost, as Joel Veltman and Evan Ferguson were forced off with thigh and ankle injuries, respectively, and De Zerbi had previously ruled the duo out of the semi-final.
Tariq Lamptey (knee), Adam Lallana (thigh), and Jeremy Sarmiento (knee) join Veltman and Ferguson in the medical room, while goalkeeper Jason Steele is uncertain with an injury, although Levi Colwill has returned after missing the game against his parent club.
Danny Welbeck will start in place of Ferguson, and with Pascal Gross probably sliding to right-back, the door exists for Julio Enciso to make his debut after his rocket of a winner against Chelsea.
Prediction-
Brighton 1-3 Manchester United
