MANCHESTER UNITED are aiming to finish the season strongly as they travel to Brighton this evening.
United will want to make a statement in tonight’s Premier League game as players are out to impress new boss Erik ten Hag, who joins from Ajax in the summer.
- Start time: 5.30pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Brighton XI: Sanchez, Cucurella, Dunk, Bissouma, Mac Allister, Trossard, Gross, Welbeck, March, Caicedo, Veltman
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Telles, Matic, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Mata, Elanga, Ronaldo
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Man Utd starting XI:
Rangnick keeps the same side that beat Brentford 3-0 at Old Trafford in their last Premier League outing.
1. De Gea, 20. Dalot, 2. Lindelof, 19. Varane, 27. Telles, 31. Matic, 39. McTominay, 18. Fernandes, 8. Mata, 36. Elanga, 7. Ronaldo.
Credit: @ManUtd Brighton subs:
23. Steele, 2. Lamptey, 4. Webster, 9. Maupay, 14. Lallana, 17. Alzate, 24. Duffy, 58. Ferguson, 57. Offiah
Brighton starting XI:
Danny Welbeck returns to face his former employers today due to the injury sustained by Enock Mwepo.
1. Sanchez, 3. Cucurella, 5. Dunk, 34. Veltman, 11. Trossard, 25. Caicedo, 8. Bissouma, 20. March, 10. MacAllister, 13. Gross, 18. Welbeck.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
If you wanna be a record breaker
It has been 41 years since the Red Devils lost more than four league games on the bounce away from home.
This is one record Ralf Rangnick will not be happy to see his side eclipse.
The Seagulls will be in no mood to have their wings clipped in their penultimate league game of the season.
There should be no place like home
Brighton’s meagre tally of 12 top-flight goals at home is the joint-worst in the division.
Only already relegated Norwich City have an identical record.
Graham Potter will be hoping the home fans can inspire a much-needed home win today.
Looking to finish on a high
Both side are seeking to build on 3-0 wins in their most recent Premier League outings.
Brighton humbled Wolves at Molineux.
While United had a confidence-boosting win over Brentford at Old Trafford.
Potter overview on Rangnick dilemma
The Brighton manager gave his opinions on United:
I always say we can’t do anything about the opponent’s situation, all we can do is focus on ourselves. They played well against Brentford in the last game, they’ve got some fantastic players, and it’s Manchester United coming to town so it’s an exciting game for us. We have to make sure we’re good, focus on the things that we do well, and do our best.
Graham Potter
End of season ‘gulls surge
Brighton have won three of their last five top-flight matches.
They won the same amount of games in their previous 25.
However, Graham Potter’s side have gone eight Premier League home games without victory (D4, L4)
Form favours the visitors
Man Utd have won the past seven meetings in all competitions.
Brighton’s three victories in 27 competitive matches against United have all come at home (D5, L19).
Danny Welbeck has scored in his last four starts against Man Utd in all competitions.
Having a rough time at home
The Seagulls are still winless at the Amex Stadium in 2022.
Drawing four games and losing four games.
Their last win at home was a Boxing Day success over Brentford.
Ralf keeping squad focussed
The Man Utd manager was asked how difficult it is keeping his side pushing for results until the end of the season:
Well, I think these last two games, two home games, we got four points against Chelsea and Brentford. We spoke already after the Brentford game that it was one of our best games in possession of the ball and also one of our best games in the last six months. I am positive the team will try to play on the same level against Brighton and in two weeks’ time against Crystal Palace. Once again, this is our job and what I liked about the game is you could see that they had fun playing together, that they were enjoying themselves on the pitch and this is exactly the kind of approach we need as well.
Ralf Rangnick
No Champions League, no party
New manager Erik ten Hag will have to do without Europe’s elite competition in his first season in position as head coach at United.
This may impact on the calibre of players they can attract.
However, league performance has just not been good enough to justify such qualification.
Potter magic creating interest
If interest in Graham Potter’s services were not already building, a recent string of positive results have further solidified that.
The Seagulls have had a great run away from the Amex Stadium.
Beating European chasing sides in the progress has really made people sit up and take note of Potter’s achievements more.
Welcome to Brighton vs Man Utd
Brighton welcome Ralf Rangnick’s Man Utd to the Amex Stadium with their chances of qualifying for the Champions League all but over after a string of poor results leaving them five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with only two games remaining in the season.
More to the point for Rangnick’s team, The Gunners still have four games left and it is very unlikely to see them lose all four of these games underpinning another season of no competing in Europe’s elite tournament.
Enock Mwepu will miss the visit of Man Utd because of a groin injury.
Jeremy Sarimento remains out with a hamstring injury while Jakub Moder is the only long-term absentee.
Man Utd captain Harry Maguire is set to return after missing the last three games with a knee injury.
Fellow defender Eric Bailly is struggling with a back complaint and Marcus Rashford has been ruled out through illness.
Danny Welbeck is expected to pip Neal Maupay to a starting position following the injury to Enock Mwepu.
Fred’s availability may see Nemanja Matic lose his starting place but Phil Jones is expected to keep his place following the clean sheet kept against Brentford in their last outing.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
