MX23RW : Monday, December 23 01:13:54| >> :60:3196:3196:
[monks data]
Attendance: 73,556
Manchester United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 12
Nov 10, 2019 at 2pm UK
 
Brighton logo

3-1

Pereira (17'), Propper (19' og.), Rashford (66')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Dunk (64')

Preview: Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion, including predictions, team news and lineups.

Manchester United welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Old Trafford with both sides looking for a win heading into the international break.

The Red Devils currently sit 10th in the Premier League table, two points and two places behind Graham Potter's Seagulls.


Manchester United

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer applauds on November 7, 2019© Reuters

United responded from their loss to Bournemouth last weekend by beating Partizan Belgrade 3-0 on Thursday, a result that took their run to just one defeat in six since the last international break.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were highly impressive in the week and they could quite easily have had five or six, with Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood dovetailing well.

United will be looking for more of the same against a Brighton side whose expansive style means that they can be a little suspect defensively when hit with pace on the counter.

The only downsides from Thursday's game were the knocks picked up by Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire, who have been influential in United looking more solid defensively for the most part during this campaign and being able to play out from the back.

Solskjaer will be hoping that both are fine to play at the weekend as United are currently riddled with injuries, with seven first-team regulars already ruled out and Ashley Young suspended.

Central to their effectiveness on Sunday will be Rashford, who has been their most productive player in the Premier League this season, scoring five and creating another three.

The academy product is one of just four people to score for United in their first 11 league games, a number joint with Crystal Palace as the lowest in the division.

More encouragingly for United is the fact that they are unbeaten in their last 41 home leagues matches in the month of November, a record stretching back to 1996.

Recent form: LDLDWL
Recent form (all competitions): DWWWLW


Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Graham Potter pictured on September 14, 2019© Reuters

Brighton are reaping the rewards of Graham Potter's attack-minded football and they could make it three wins on the spin with victory on Sunday.

The former Swansea coach has set the Seagulls up to press in numbers and continually look for openings - an approach that has seen them look threatening and ask questions of every team they have faced this season.

Key to that has been both their success in the air - an area where United have often struggled of late - and the influence of their substitutes, with both Shane Duffy and Leandro Trossard scoring after coming off the bench last weekend against Norwich City.

Their attacking intent and the fact that Solskjaer's side have only kept two clean sheets in their last 22 Premier League matches suggests that Brighton will have chances during Sunday's game.

The Seagulls, who have a mostly-fit squad, will be hoping that United are suffering from a European hangover after playing on Thursday, something that would allow them to make a strong start and put the home team under pressure.

While Brighton's away record against the traditional top six in England's top flight is not great, they have beaten the Manchester side twice since being promoted to the Premier League.

However, both of those wins have come at the Amex Stadium and, in fact, all four games between the two in the league over the last two seasons have been won by the home side and all four have been decided by a one-goal margin.

Recent form: DLWLWW
Recent form (all competitions): LLWLWW


Team News

Paul Pogba in action for Manchester United on September 25, 2019© Reuters

Paul Pogba heads up the lengthy list of United players currently out injured, with Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic among those also out.

Victor Lindelof is unlikely to feature after not training this week, which means that Marcos Rojo is likely to partner Maguire in defence, with youngster Brendan Williams set to deputise for Young at left-back.

Jesse Lingard looks likely to return to the starting lineup in place of Andreas Pereira after the latter's poor showing against Bournemouth last weekend, while Daniel James is expected to start on the right ahead of Greenwood, despite the teenager scoring again on Thursday.

Aaron Webster will miss out for Brighton after going off injured last week, with Bernardo and Jose Izquierdo both still absent with long-term issues.

Duffy is expected to start at centre-back in Webster's absence, while Trossard is likely to come into the team after his dynamic cameo last week.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Rojo, Williams; McTominay, Fred; James, Lingard, Rashford; Martial

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Burn; Trossard, Gross, Stephens, Alzate; Maupay, Connolly


Head To Head

Sunday's game will be the 22nd competitive meeting between the two sides, with United currently leading the way with 13 wins to Brighton's three.

Brighton have picked up just one point from their six away league games against the Red Devils in England's top flight and that came in March 1983.

Prior to the Seagulls' promotion to the Premier League under Chris Hughton, they had not faced United in over 24 years.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Manchester United 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Although they are still not the complete package, United do seem to be finding their groove and they should have enough to edge another tight game against the south coast club.



ID:378378: cacheID:378378:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11423:
Written by
Andrew Sinclair
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured on November 2, 2019
Read Next:
How Man Utd could line up against Partizan
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!