Manchester United will be making their final preparation before their return to the Champions League as they host the in-form Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford this Saturday.
Manager Erik ten Hag has had two weeks to address the issues within his team following Antony’s allegations in Brazil and his fallout with Jadon Sancho just before the international break.
The Dutch boss must now find a way to refocus his squad on their on-field performance as they aim to recover from a disheartening 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in their previous match.
Although Alejandro Garnacho appeared to secure a late victory for United, VAR ruled him fractionally offside, allowing Arsenal to score two late goals and hand the Red Devils their second league defeat of the season.
Must Read: Man United vs Brighton – Man United’s Predicted Lineup | PL 23-24
The first international break of the 2023-24 season offered Ten Hag and his team some relief, but it wasn’t ideal timing for Brighton, who were visiting at that moment.
The @PremierLeague is back this weekend 🔙🔴#MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/ZvZyz2i4K8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 14, 2023
Roberto De Zerbi’s team proved their European qualifications with a convincing 3-1 home win over Newcastle United right before the two-week break, bouncing back impressively from a previous defeat to West Ham United.
Although Brighton lost key players like Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo over the summer, they continue to pose a significant threat.
Also Read: Scott McTominay continues to be a star performer for Scotland ahead of Euros 24
The emergence of young talent Evan Ferguson has been a notable highlight in the early part of the season. The 18-year-old striker impressively scored a hat-trick on his own to defeat Newcastle.
Manchester United vs. Brighton and Hove Albion: Head-to-head
Man United’s struggles in away matches under Ten Hag’s leadership continue to impede their progress in the PL, as they have lost both of their away league games this season.
However, Old Trafford remains a fortress for the team, boasting a perfect home record in the 2023-24 season (2 wins) and an impressive 31-game unbeaten streak at home (27 wins, 4 draws).
The last team to secure a victory at the Theatre of Dreams was Brighton, who won 2-1 during Ten Hag’s debut as a manager in England’s top flight in August 2022.
Since then, there has been a transformation in Manchester, with the team displaying resilience at home. A recent example of this was their comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Nottingham Forest 3-2.
Also Read: Manchester United in advanced talks with Qualcomm over shirt sponsorship deal
Brighton, who have been an exciting team to watch early in the season, won’t be intimidated by their hosts, especially considering they ended the international break as the Premier League’s highest-scoring team with 12 goals.
Fresh from his first #PL hat-trick! ✨😏 pic.twitter.com/cdBotVlj4F
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 14, 2023
Under De Zerbi’s management, Brighton have won three out of four league matches this season (with one loss). They’ve consistently scored at least three goals and kept a clean sheet in the first half during each of these victories.
However, their performance away from home has been inconsistent since they secured a 2-2 draw against Leeds United last season in March. In their eight away league matches since then, the Seagulls have had a mixed record, winning four and losing four.
As they prepare for their inaugural European competition match, Brighton will be eager to defy expectations at Old Trafford just before their Europa League encounter with AEK Athens.
Also Read: Bruno Fernandes puts on a masterclass performance in record win for Portugal
Manchester vs. Brighton and Hove Albion: Team News
United’s list of absent players continues to be concerning as they now miss Antony. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane, and Mason Mount remain sidelined due to injuries.
There is uncertainty surrounding new signing Sofyan Amrabat’s availability due to a back issue, but there is optimism that Lisandro Martinez will return to the defence after recovering from a minor fitness problem.
On the other hand, Brighton will be without Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso, while Danny Welbeck, who suffered a muscle injury before the international break, maybe on the bench.
Manchester vs. Brighton and Hove Albion: Predicted line-ups
Here are the potential starting line-ups for Man United and Brighton & Hove Albion:
Manchester United (4-2-3-1):
– Goalkeeper: Andre Onana
– Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot
– Midfielders: Casemiro, Christian Eriksen
– Attackers: Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund
Also Read: Morocco manager leaves out Sofyan Amrabat as a precautionary measure
Brighton & Hove Albion (4-2-3-1):
– Goalkeeper: Jason Steele
– Defenders: Milner, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan
– Midfielders: Pascal Gross, Mahmoud Dahoud
– Attackers: Solly March, Joao Pedro, Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson
Our Final Scoreline: Manchester United 2-2 Brighton and Hove Albion
While we’re not predicting Brighton to repeat their victory from last season at Old Trafford, we expect that the visitors will manage to secure at least a draw.
Both teams have been involved in high-scoring matches in the Premier League this season, and Man United tends to perform better at home. Given these factors, we foresee an exciting and competitive match.
