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Old Trafford is the setting for Manchester United’s Premier League showdown with Brighton and Hove Albion this Saturday. It’s a 15:00 kick-off in the UK as the Seagulls target a fourth straight victory over the Red Devils in the league.
Manchester United vs Brighton and Hove Albion predicted lineups and news
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Manchester United have endured a disappointing start to the new season with their away day blues continuing against the stronger teams. Defeats in North London against Arsenal and Tottenham have taken the shine off home wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest and they head into this game in mid-table as a result.
Brighton are 3 points and 5 places better off in 6th which is exactly where they finished last season. This is Roberto De Zerbi’s team’s final match before they make their Europa League debut against AEK Athens on Thursday.
Team news: Manchester United
It would have been a stressful international break for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag with two of his wingers making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Antony is unavailable for selection here as he attempts to clear his name after allegations of assault were made against him.
The very public falling out between the manager and Jadon Sancho has been another unwanted distraction over the past couple of weeks with the England man’s future at Old Trafford now very much in doubt. The situation could serve up more opportunities for youngsters Facundo Pellistri and Alejandro Garnacho.
Facundo Pellistri will be determined to start for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday #mufc https://t.co/zv4Z34byyJ
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) September 14, 2023
The problems don’t end there for the Red Devils. They could be without as many as nine players here with Mason Mount, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw other major absentees for this game. Summer signing Rasmus Hojlund could be in line for his first start up front.
Manchester United predicted lineup
Onana, Dalot, Martinez, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, Eriksen, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Team news: Brighton and Hove Albion
Things are brighter for the opposition, although the Seagulls will be missing midfielder Julio Enciso due to an injury.
Aside from that they are in a pretty good state fitness-wise, with the exception of a couple of doubts in attack. One of those doubts is Evan Ferguson who lit up the last Premier League matchday against Newcastle with a hat-trick before suffering an injury which ruled him out of the Republic of Ireland’s internationals. Brighton are hopeful he can recover in time for this match.
In ordinary circumstances, they may not have rushed Ferguson back so soon but fellow striker Danny Welbeck is also a doubt for this match on his old ground. The visitors could instead opt to start with Joao Pedro in a more advanced role than we’ve seen him so far.
Brighton and Hove Albion predicted lineup
Verbruggen, Estupinan, Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Gilmour, Gross, Mitoma, Lallana, March, Joao Pedro
Will Jadon Sancho play?
Jadon Sancho publicly called his manager out on social media after the Spurs game, rebuffing the suggestion that he hadn’t applied himself properly in training.
That tweet has since been deleted and Sancho is available this weekend but he has reportedly refused to apologise to Ten Hag and is training alone as a result. That makes it very unlikely that the winger will be involved in any capacity here.
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