New Delhi: Brighton and Hove Albion will host Manchester United in the Amex Stadium on Saturday, 24th August, with both clubs coming to the game on top of a opening-weekend victories in the Premier League. United got the better of Brighton having won 2-0 with goals from Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund.
Fabian Hurzeler became the youngest head coach in the Premier League ever, and despite many expecting Brighton to take time to embrace the transition, the club started its season with a 3-0 win over Everton last week.
Kaoru Mitoma’s 25th-minute opener had put the Seagulls in a commanding position at half-time. Twelve minutes into the second half, Danny Welbeck doubled the effort, with Substitute Simon Adingra scoring the third goal in the 87th minute. Had Yasin Ayari not drifted into the offside, the scoreline would have shown one more goal to their name.
They have been impressive in the pre-season as well, winning every game in the phase, with their 4-0 win over La Liga club Villareal at the Amex Stadium being the highlight. Whilst Brighton did lose their last home game against United, they have won four out of their last five encounters, with a home 4-0 win in May 2022 and a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in September 2023. Which is why Hurzeler and Co will be quite confident when taking the field.
Manchester came into the competition after losing on penalties to city rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield. They didn’t exhibit a lot of flair during their opening game against Fulham at the Old Trafford. Their 1-0 win happened only after Joshua Zirkzee came off the substitutes bench to take home the game in the 87th minute.
Still, manager Erik ten Hag stated that the game gave a lot of confidence to the outfit and believes his side will keep improving as the season progresses. Having never won their first two games of a season since 2017-18, United will try to break this unwanted record from their name.
However, it will not be a walk in the park having one of their highest defeat rate against any opponent in the division’s history. At the Amex stadium the game favours the hosts more with Red Devils losing 43% of their previous 14 Premier League games against Seagulls.
Team News
Brighton will miss the services of Solly March and Julio Enciso due to knee injuries while Bart Verbruggen and Igor Julio are still in recovery from injuries. Evan Ferguso n, Pervis Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey have taken part in the training sessions and are being assessed before the match.
Hurzeler has confirmed Yankuba Minteh’s availability for selection having come off the pitch at half time during his Seagulls debut against Everton following concussion protocols. Adingra and Brajan Gruda are waiting in the wings if they are required to start on the right flank. With Valentin Barco on loan to Sevilla, Georginio Rutter is a contender to make his debut though he may come in as a substitute with Joao Pedro giving support in attack to Welbeck.
Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United celebrates after the final whistle during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Fulham FC at Old Trafford on August 16, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
In the Red Devils camp, Luke Shaw is out with a calf issue while Tyrell Malacia is out with a knee injury as well as Victor Lindelof who is nursing a toe injury. Their latest recruit Leny Yoro will be out for three months with foot injury while Hojlund too has picked up a hamstring injury and will be sidelined for the game.
Ten Hag will try to keep the same back four consisting of Noussair Mazraui, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot who managed to keep a clean sheet in the last match. However Mattihs de Ligt, their new signing will be trying to make his debut at the centre-back in place of Maguire.
Zirkzee could be given a nod to be in the starting XI after scoring United’s victory over Fulham. Bruno Fernandes will drop to his favourite position as a number 10, with Mason Mount taking the bench. Alejandro Garnacho might be included on either flank ahead of Amad Diallo or Marcus Rashford.
Predicted lineup
Brighton & Hove Albion: Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood; Milner, Wieffer; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Early Prediction
In the form that Brighton is in, they could give a strong fight to United and the game could be an edge of the seat contest with the results favouring the Red Devils to a 2-1 win.
Can the Red Devils win again at the Amex stadium or will hosts Brighton and Hove Albion steal the show this time? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
