Manchester United will look to climb up the table when they host Brighton on Saturday. The Seagulls are now in the top six. They are only three points behind league leaders Manchester City. The Red Devils are in 11th position at this early juncture in the season.
Preview (Manchester United vs. Brighton)
From their first four Premier League games this season, they have recorded two wins at home and two losses away. Their most recent loss came at the hands of rivals Arsenal. They defeated United 3-1 in dramatic circumstances two weeks ago. Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus scored in the 96th and 101st minutes to win all three points. It gave Ten Hag something to think about as he prepares for a heavy fixture schedule. Man United must transfer their attention to Saturday’s difficult Premier League meeting against Brighton. They claimed a 2-1 success at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of last season.
The Red Devils haven’t lost three of their first five league games since the 1989–90 season under Sir Alex Ferguson, but Ten Hag will be confident of grinding out a victory this weekend at home because his team hasn’t lost any of their last 32 games there in all competitions. While Man United are struggling, Brighton are on the rise and have had a successful start to the new campaign, winning three of their first four Premier League games and scoring 12 goals in the process—more than any other side in the top flight thus far.
The Seagulls made a statement with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United at home before the international break after recovering from a temporary slump against West Ham United. Teenage wonder Evan Ferguson scored his first Premier League hat-trick in that game. Brighton supporters are sure to have one eye on their first-ever Europa League match against AEK Athens next Thursday. In their last eight Premier League away games, the Seagulls have won four and lost four. Two of those four triumphs, interestingly, came against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Team News
Due to assault charges against him, Man United winger Antony will not play for the team “until further notice,” while injuries to Raphael Varane (muscle), Luke Shaw (muscle), Tyrell Malacia (muscle), Amad Diallo (knee), Kobbie Mainoo (ankle), and Tom Heaton (calf) also prevent them from playing. Sofyan Amrabat, a recent addition, is questionable due to a back issue, but Manchester United reportedly hopes to have the Moroccan available for the match against Brighton.
Lisandro Martinez and Mason Mount may also be able to rejoin the matchday squad if they successfully recover from their respective foot and hamstring injuries. Bruno Fernandes, Facundo Pellistri, and Alejandro Garnacho are all candidates who could start on the right flank due to Antony’s absence and Sancho’s anticipated absence due to his training ban for his social media outburst towards Ten Hag. New acquisitions have been made following the victory over Newcastle from the stands.
Ansu Fati, who is on loan from Barcelona, is most likely to play in the No. 10 position between star wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March, and Carlos Baleba is vying with Billy Gilmour and Mahmoud Dahoud for a starting spot in center midfield alongside newly-capped Germany international Pascal Gross. Both players could make their Seagulls debuts at Old Trafford. James Milner will compete with Joel Veltman for the right-back spot, and Adam Webster will try to start in front of Jan Paul van Hecke in the center of defense. De Zerbi will debate whether to keep Bart Verbruggen in goal or call up Jason Steele between the posts.
Manchester United 2 – 2 Brighton
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