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Manchester United will look to put the disappointment of Thursday night’s disaster in Seville behind them immediately when they travel to Wembley tomorrow afternoon for an FA Cup semi-final clash with high-flying Brighton. It’s arguably the biggest game of United’s season so far with a loss unthinkable when they started the week with aspirations of ending the season with a treble.
For Brighton, the prospect of playing a team who were in European action away from home just two days ago is surely an appetising one. The Seagulls have been electric in recent months and go into the game as narrow favourites with some bookmakers. If they can pull it off, then they will have a clash with Manchester City to look forward to at the end of May.
The match is United’s second game at Wembley this season after they beat Newcastle there in February to win the Carabao Cup. Brighton, on the other hand, haven’t played at the famous stadium since 1983 when they came up against Manchester United in the FA Cup final. The match is due to kick off at 16:30 and viewers in the United Kingdom can watch it on BBC One.
Brighton Team News: Is Evan Ferguson fit enough to play?
Roberto De Zerbi would have liked to have had a clean bill of health ahead of the club’s biggest match in recent memory but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. While Adam Lallana and Tariq Lamptey are definitely out of the fixture, there are also doubts over the fitness of Jason Steele, Evan Ferguson and Joel Veltman.
🚨 Brighton training this morning ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final. Ferguson, Veltman and Lamptey were all absent.#BHAFC 🔵⚪️pic.twitter.com/Hc3XBKmlSY
— Seagulls Central (@SeagullsCentral) April 21, 2023
Steele, who has replaced Sanchez as the club’s number-one goalkeeper in recent times, was ruled out of Brighton’s game with Chelsea last week with a “slight injury” while Ferguson and Veltman were both forced half in the first half of that game with muscle injuries. Although De Zerbi ruled the pair out for a couple of weeks, he has offered a fresh update on both of them, and Steele, ahead of the match with United. He said:
“The situation on injuries is not clear. We will see tomorrow morning. We have another two days. We have time to understand the situation and analyse the decision.”
The loss of Veltman would arguably be more problematic than Ferguson due to the fact that the club’s other right back, Tariq Lamptey, is also out injured. If Ferguson is ruled out then they would at least be able to call upon the dependable Danny Welbeck to lead the line against his boyhood club.
Manchester United Team News: Who will Erik Ten Hag play in defence?
After the calamitous performance in Seville on Thursday night, Erik Ten Hag may use this game as an opportunity to wield the axe with several players underperforming on the night. One decision that has been taken away from him, however, relates to Harry Maguire who gave the ball away for Sevilla’s opener on Thursday night. The England defender is suspended and therefore unavailable for selection.
Reminder: Harry Maguire is suspended for #mufc’s FA Cup semi-final vs Brighton… pic.twitter.com/Ke2nQjlqCs
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) April 14, 2023
It means that Luke Shaw, who was only fit enough for a place on the bench on Thursday, will likely play at centre back alongside Victor Lindelof for United. Tyrell Malacia will surely be recalled to the team while both Dalot and Wan-Bissaka will battle it out for the right back position. Neither man covered themselves in glory midweek.
In midfield, Ten Hag will be overjoyed that he is able to recall Bruno Fernandes who was so badly missed against Sevilla. Casemiro will also play, with Ten Hag facing a difficult decision as to who he goes with as the third midfielder. Scott Mctominay and Donny van de Beek are unavailable through injury so it will likely be one of Fred, Sabitzer and Eriksen.
Up front, Anthony Martial once again hobbled off which means Wout Weghorst might get the nod up front. Marcus Rashford will likely come in for Jadon Sancho while Antony will play from the right.
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