Manchester United Vs Brighton — Can Seagulls Make It Eight Unbeaten?

Tuesday, 15 February 2022 12:29

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Credit: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Brighton and Hove Albion will look to follow up a confident 2-0 weekend victory at Watford's Vicarage Road when they visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United this evening (Tuesday).

The Seagulls sit in ninth place, just eight points below the top-four with games in hand on a couple of the sides further up the table.

Albion have lost just once on their top-flight travels this term — a feat equalled only by league leaders Manchester City — while they are also unbeaten in seven league matches as a push for Europe continues.

The loss of giant centre-half Dan Burn, who returned to hometown club Newcastle in a £12.5m deal last month, didn't appear to knock Potters' well drilled group out of their stride at the weekend, with the Seagulls backline now boasting the fourth meanest defensive record in the division.

Goals have been a little sparse at the other end though, with only Neal Maupay registering more than four in the league.

Manchester United, who are fifth, were booed off the pitch following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday.

Despite proving difficult to beat, the Red Devils have won only two of their previous six PL games, while struggling icon Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored a goal for the club since December — a run of six games without netting marking the worst sequence of his career since 2009.

With a slew of players out of contract at the end of the season, there is a perceived malaise in the atmosphere, and the appointment of Ralf Rangnick has failed to provide a 'new manager spark' thus far.

Injuries and suspensions

Fred returns to the Manchester United squad, having missed the Southampton match after testing positive for Covid-19, but Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood and Eric Bailly could all miss out.

Brighton's Jeremy Sarmiento and Enock Mwepu remain unavailable through injury, but the visitors are otherwise at full strength heading into the match.

Form table

Brighton are in top-six form and despite the loss of outstanding defender Dan Burn to Newcastle last month, the Seagulls' defence looked as solid as ever against Watford on Saturday.

Manchester United have been uninspiring in recent weeks, struggling to score goals despite creating chances.

Above: Form table (credit: thefishy.co.uk)

Predicted line-ups

Manchester United (4-3-3)

The returning Fred could line up alongside Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes in a midfield three, with Sancho, Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo again potentially featuring as the front three.

Brighton (3-4-2-1)

There are not expected to be many surprises in the away side's XI, with a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation in place.

Prediction

Manchester United 1 - 1 Brighton

Under interim boss, Ralf Rangnick, United have been solid if unspectacular, drawing their past two matches 1-1. With Brighton's fantastic away record in mind, expect more of the same tonight.