United play their first away game of the new campaign in the early Saturday kick-off; a tough tie against a Brighton side that find themselves top of the table after dispatching Everton 3-0 in the first game.
Although a tougher test than the Fulham game, United should be encouraged by the performance they turned in. We created plenty of chances, defended and pressed well, and ultimately came away with a win by a scoreline that probably flattered the visitors.
This game will be played against the backdrop of the Premier League entering the last week of the transfer window, in which United are still very much active.
New boys Zirkzee and Mazraoui really impressed against Fulham, scoring the winner and putting in a MOTM performance respectively. De Ligt also looked solid in a late cameo.
United look to be on the verge of securing long-term defensive midfield target Manuel Ugarte’s signature. There has also been recent talk about left-back Ben Chilwell and one or two other players, but Ugarte remains the priority. By the time you read this, he could even be a Red!
Manchester United Team News
United are largely in the same position as last week with no fresh injuries.
Leny Yoro is set to be out for the next three months after suffering a foot injury during pre-season. Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelöf are set to miss out too.
Now that three of our four new signings have got minutes on the pitch, you would think they would all be fit enough to start, should Erik Ten Hag want to include them in the starting 11.
The manager will have some thinking to do; integrating new players into a team is never straightforward. Given his excellent first performance and lack of other options, Noussair Mazraoui is likely to start, but how the dutch pair of De Ligt and Zirkzee will feature is anyone’s guess.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup
Opposition Preview
Brighton were impressive in their opening match; a 3-0 away win over Everton, who had ex-United full-back Ashley Young sent off. Ironically, Young is now the oldest player every to receive a Premier League red card at 39.
A clinical finish by another ex-Red, Danny Welbeck, was sandwiched by strikes from Mitoma and Adingra either side of half time, and Brighton were good value for the win and the scoreline.
New signings Minteh and Wieffer both impressed, and the Seagulls still have several new players to introduce, including talented attacker Georginio Rutter, who signed for a club-record £40m from Leeds.
One of the best-ran cubs in the league, make no mistake; Brighton is a team on the up and will represent a tougher test than Fulham in the first game.
Brighton Team News
Evan Ferguson, Tariq Lamptey and Pervis Estupinan have returned to training this week but it is too early to say whether they will be fit enough to be involved.
New signing Yankuba Minteh will be available after he was substituted against Everton with concussion. Manager Fabian Hurzeler did not comment on whether record signing Georginio Rutter will be available for Saturday’s match.
Ex-Red Welbeck was on target for Brighton in their opening match
Form Guide
Manchester United (all competitions inc pre-season): WLLWL
Brighton (all competitions inc pre-season): WWWWW
Prediction
United showed lots of positives against Fulham, and the XG showed they should have won by a greater margin. If we can make incremental improvements on that performance and – most importantly – convers more of the chances we create, we should be able to overcome the Seagulls.
Brighton are a good side and have some dangerous attacking options, but United’s reinforced back line should be able to cope with the pressure.
Prediction: Brighton 0 – 2 Manchester United
