Huge top-four stakes will be on the line when Brighton & Hove Albion go up vs Manchester United at the Amex Stadium on Thursday.
The elongated Gameweek 34 of the 2022/23 Premier League season will end on Thursday with an eye-catching fixture. Brighton & Hove Albion will be up vs Manchester United at the Amex Stadium, with both teams looking to get closer to their objectives for the campaign.
Brighton & Hove Albion continue to go from strength to strength under Roberto De Zerbi. And the Seagulls showed they mean business under the Italian tactician by walloping Wolverhampton Wanderers this past weekend. The 6-0 win helped the hosts remain in the top-four battle ahead of a few challenging fixtures.
On the other hand, Manchester United got a step closer to clinching a spot in the top four after a 1-0 win over Aston Villa. The game was a six-pointer in the top-four race, with Villa charging relentlessly through the table under Unai Emery. But the Red Devils are now on the cusp of returning to the UEFA Champions League with a few more wins.
Brighton and Manchester United have locked horns twice this season, with both teams racking up a win apiece. The Seagulls beat Erik ten Hag’s men on the opening day of the 2022/23 season at Old Trafford before the Red Devils exacted revenge in the FA Cup semi-final last month. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Brighton & Hove Albion
Ready for the run-in. 📆👊 #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/bN3s4e6Wit
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 3, 2023
Roberto De Zerbi has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Thursday, the Brighton & Hove Albion manager might be bereft of the services of as many as six first-team players.
Joel Veltman sustained a muscle injury in the 6-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers this past weekend. The Dutchman has joined Tariq Lamptey (knee), Adam Lallana (thigh), Jakub Moder (knee), and Jeremy Sarmiento (ankle) on the sidelines.
In addition, De Zerbi continues to sweat over the fitness of Evan Ferguson. And the Irish striker will unlikely be fit enough to start against Manchester United on Thursday. So Danny Welbeck will spearhead the Brighton attack again this week.
Meanwhile, Jason Steele will start between the sticks ahead of Robert Sanchez again. And Brighton will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of the experienced goalkeeper. As for the defensive unit, it will see one change on Thursday.
Pascal Gross should move away from his midfield role to start as a right-back in Veltman’s absence. The German utility man will join Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk and Pervis Estupinan in the defensive unit.
Gross’s vacated midfield berth will go to Alexis Mac Allister, who will operate from deeper areas. The Argentine international will pair up with Moises Caicedo in the double pivot in the middle of the park. But despite his new role, the World Cup winner will look to push Brighton forward vs Manchester United.
As for the spot vacated by Mac Allister, Julio Enciso should reprise the no. 10 role. But instead of donning the creative hat, he will look for scoring opportunities while playing off Welbeck. Finally, Kaoru Mitoma will return to the starting eleven, joining Solly March on the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Steele; Gross, Colwill, Dunk, Estupinan; Caicedo, Mac Allister; March, Enciso, Mitoma; Welbeck
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Brighton & Hove Albion dugout, Erik ten Hag is not dealing with any new issues ahead of the trip to the Amex Stadium, The Manchester United manager will be without seven first-team players on Thursday.
Alejandro Garnacho is the only sidelined player closing in on returning to action. But the teenage sensation will not be ready to take the field for another few days. Tom Heaton (ankle), Phil Jones (knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot), Raphael Varane (ankle), Scott McTominay (knock), and Donny van de Beek (knee) remain on the sidelines.
In addition, the reason for Harry Maguire’s absence remains a mystery. And the Manchester United captain will unlikely return vs Brighton on Thursday. So Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof will form the central defensive partnership again.
"Now the expectations will be higher" 🌟
Erik Ten Hag discusses Alejandro Garnacho's contract extension and the importance of youth development at Manchester United 🔴 pic.twitter.com/WF1w5hC6DB
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 3, 2023
Tyrell Malacia should continue as the left-back after a decent showing against Aston Villa this past weekend. But Aaron Wan-Bissaka should replace Diogo Dalot, with David de Gea featuring between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, Casemiro will hold the fort in the middle of the park. The Brazilian international will pair up with Christian Eriksen in the double pivot. But the Dane will often charge forward to help Manchester United create a 4-1-4-1 formation during the offensive phases.
Marcel Sabitzer will make ghosting runs into the Brighton box when the opportunities present itself, taking some of the scoring burden off Marcus Rashford. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s top scorer should move to the left flank, with Anthony Martial likely returning as the central striker. And Bruno Fernandes will have a free role, despite starting on the right flank on paper.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Bruno Fernandes, Sabitzer, Rashford; Martial
Key Stats
- Brighton & Hove Albion have won their last two Premier League games vs Manchester United. The Seagulls have never won three league games in a row against the Red Devils before, nor have they ever done the league double over them. Manchester United have lost three of their five Premier League games vs Brighton at the Amex Stadium (W2). It is their highest loss rate at any ground they’ve played at more than once in the competition (60%).
- Manchester United have won just one of their last 13 Premier League away games against sides starting the day in the top half of the table (D3 L9), beating Fulham (9th) 2-1 in November. The Red Devils have also failed to keep a clean sheet in any of these 13 games since beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in October 2021.
- Manchester United have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League matches. No side has managed more shut-outs since the start of this run on February 12 (also Aston Villa, 7). They have kept 26 clean sheets in all competitions this season, with only Barcelona keeping more (27) across the teams in the top five leagues in Europe in 2022/23.
- Pascal Gross has scored six Premier League goals against Manchester United, more than he has against any other opponent. Since Brighton’s first Premier League campaign in 2017/18, only Mohamed Salah (10) has scored more against the Red Devils than Gross.
- No player has scored more Premier League goals vs Manchester United having previously played for them in the competition than Brighton forward Danny Welbeck (3 – level with Wilfried Zaha).
Player to Watch
Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck is enjoying a purple patch amid Evan Ferguson’s fitness issues. He has either scored (5) or assisted (1) six goals in his last six Premier League appearances for Brighton at the Amex Stadium. And he can find the back of the net in three successive home appearances in the competition for the first time since January 2014 if he gets past David de Gea on Thursday.
Welbeck can also set the record for most Premier League goals against Manchester United after having represented them with a strike this week. And with Ferguson unlikely to start, the 32-year-old will be eager to make his mark versus his former club. Expect another Welbeck masterclass on Thursday.
Prediction
Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 Manchester United
Manchester United should utilise the 4-1-4-1 formation on Thursday after trialling the system against Aston Villa. But Brighton & Hove Albion are too strong at home, while the Red Devils have been duds on their travels. And the visitors’ miserable record on the road against top-half teams will continue on Thursday.
Brighton will blow Manchester United away at the start, with a refreshed Kaoru Mitoma exacting revenge on Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Danny Welbeck should also rise to the occasion against his former club. But Manchester United will pull a goal back to salvage some pride. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Roberto De Zerbi and his charges.
