Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Old Trafford on Saturday.
The international break is behind us, and clubs can focus on a month of uninterrupted action. The Premier League will witness the advent of Gameweek 5 this weekend, with the marquee fixture on Saturday pitting Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Manchester United would have hoped to set the tone at the start of the 2023/24 season after an impressive 2022/23 campaign. But the Red Devils have struggled to assert themselves thus far in the new term. And a record of two wins and as many losses in four games does not bode well for Erik ten Hag and his charges, especially considering they have been mired in controversy thus far.
On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion have been one of the early pace-setters in the Premier League this season. The Seagulls did lose one tie against the run of play ahead of the international break. But they have been the most prolific team thus far this season while winning three of their four matches.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Brighton & Hove Albion clinch a 2-1 win over Manchester United to start the 2022/23 campaign. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag on Antony/Sancho cases: “Strict lines is what the club asked me because there was no good culture before last season”. 🔴 #MUFC
“So it’s important to to set good standards, that is what I did and it is my job to control the standards”.
“Team is above everything”. pic.twitter.com/pwjEanmmJL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 15, 2023
Erik ten Hag has new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, the Manchester United manager might be bereft of the services of as many as ten first-team players.
Jadon Sancho and Antony are the latest absentees, with the duo serving internal suspensions due to different issues. In addition, deadline-day signing Sofyan Amrabat will likely miss out due to a minor back injury.
The trio has joined Tom Heaton (calf), Luke Shaw (muscle injury), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Raphael Varane (knock), Kobbie Mainoo (ankle), and Amad Diallo (knee) on the sidelines. In addition, Mason Mount faces a race against time to recover from the hamstring injury that has troubled him in the last few weeks.
Andre Onana will retain his spot between the sticks despite the arrival of Altay Bayindir on Deadline Day. Manchester United will line up in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot forming the backline. But Harry Maguire will be in contention to feature alongside Lindelof if Martinez has jetlag issues.
As for the midfield unit, Amrabat’s absence means Christian Eriksen and Casemiro should pair up in the double pivot. But Scott McTominay has made a case for himself with his exploits during the international break. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role.
Antony and Sancho’s absence means Facundo Pellistri will get the chance to make an impact on the right flank. Alejandro Garnacho can also start alongside Marcus Rashford. But Saturday will bring an opportunity for Pellistri. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will make his first start for Manchester United this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Pellistri, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Brighton & Hove Albion
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Roberto De Zerbi barely has any issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Brighton & Hove Albion manager will be without two first-team players on Saturday.
De Zerbi has been sweating over the fitness of Evan Ferguson (knee) and Danny Welbeck (knock). But the duo should be available, albeit being fit enough only to make the bench. But Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso continue to recover from their respective knee injuries.
Fresh from his first #PL hat-trick! ✨😏 pic.twitter.com/cdBotVlj4F
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 14, 2023
Bart Verbruggen usurped Jason Steele as the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the international break. And the Dutchman should feature between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him.
James Milner has impressed as a right-back since joining Brighton. The veteran Englishman will likely join Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, and Pervis Estupinan in the defensive unit. The latter will have the freedom to express himself in the final third.
As for the midfield unit, Billy Gilmour has been impressive in the first few games this season. And the Scottish international should join Pascal Gross in the double pivot. Meanwhile, Ansu Fati should feature as a no. 10, with a free role likely bringing the best out of him.
Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma have been ruthless from the flanks thus far this season. And the duo will be direct in their approach from the flanks on Saturday. Finally, Joao Pedro should spearhead the Brighton attack, with Ferguson emerging from the bench later in the game.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Milner, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour; March, Fati, Mitoma, Pedro
Key Stats
- Manchester United have lost their last three league games against Brighton & Hove Albion, including last season’s corresponding fixture, which was Erik ten Hag’s first match in charge. The Red Devils have scored just once in their four previous clashes with Brighton in all competitions, an own goal by Alexis Mac Allister in this fixture last year.
- Manchester United have gone 31 games – spanning more than a year – without defeat at Old Trafford, winning 27 and drawing four in all competitions. The Red Devils are seeking their ninth consecutive league win at Old Trafford, which will be their longest run since a 12-match streak in 2012/13.
- Brighton & Hove Albion are seeking successive Premier League away wins for the first time since a run of three between November and January last season.
- Brighton can equal a club record of scoring in 16 successive away league matches, first set in League One between August 2009 and February 2010.
- Bruno Fernandes has scored four and set up two of the last eight goals scored by Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Pascal Gross has scored six Premier League goals against Manchester United, including both in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford last season.
Player to Watch
Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester United might have suffered a heavy defeat against Arsenal ahead of the international break. But there were a few positives to come out of the loss, with Rasmus Hojlund’s energetic cameo raising eyebrows.
The Danish international was relentless in his appearance off the bench. And he played a pivotal role in Alejandro Garnacho’s ruled-out goal, which nearly won Manchester United the game. Another impressive performance on Saturday will go a long way in heralding the start of a memorable Manchester United stint.
Prediction
Manchester United 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United will face the biggest test to their brilliant home run in the last 12 months when Brighton & Hove Albion visit Old Trafford on Saturday. The Seagulls have been in rampaging form thus far, with no other team finding the back of the net more often than them.
But the Red Devils have found ways to restrict their opponents at home. And Erik ten Hag will likely set his team up to defend with numbers behind the ball. So, they should frustrate Brighton, like West Ham United did a few weeks ago. And that will set them up to earn a point. But the result will be another early blow to Manchester United’s title aspirations.