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    Man Utd vs Brighton: Betting preview, tips and predictions for Premier League clash

    THERE’S a top Premier League contest amongst the Saturday 3pm games this weekend as Brighton travel to face Manchester United.SunSport betting experts have previewed the contest, and carefully selected our best bets, tips and sign-up bonuses for the showdown at Old Trafford.
    Man Utd vs Brighton: Betting preview, tips and preview for Premier League clashCredit: Reuters
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    Manchester United vs Brighton preview
    Manchester United welcome Brighton on Saturday in a very intriguing Premier League duel.
    The Seagulls have had a bit of an up-and-down start to the season, but when they’re up, they’re very much flying.
    Last time out saw them thump Newcastle 3-1 in a full-throttle performance, which went some way to getting back on track after a 3-1 home defeat to West Ham previously.
    As for United, it’s difficult to sum their start to the season up, other than putting it down as ‘bumpy’.
    They weren’t convincing when beating Wolves on matchday one and were even less so in losing to Tottenham.
    A come-from-behind win over Nottingham Forest followed before that late, late defeat to Arsenal before the break.
    United thought they’d won it towards the end, only for the Gunners to bang in two late goals against a centre back pairing of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.
    Rasmus Hojlund made his first appearance from the bench after injury and played over 70 minutes across Denmark’s games in the break, so he should be slowing getting back up to speed.
    But with off-field problems for Antony and Jadon Sancho, it’s not all rosy in Manchester at present.
    Manchester United vs Brighton odds

    Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
    Manchester United vs Brighton betting tips
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    They’re probably the most exciting team to watch in the division at present and Brighton could show that here.
    United haven’t had a decent performance at home this season yet and it’s difficult to see their defence – whoever makes it in the back four – coping with the sheer pace and power that the visitors have to offer.

    Old Trafford is a big pitch and their expansive football will suit it perfectly.
    Both teams have scored in every one of their games so far.
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    Much has been spoken about Mitoma and Ferguson as March continues to fly under the radar.
    He scored twice in the Seagulls’ last away game and on the opening day too.
    Two games without a goal could see him fire back here, or set up one of his forward friends.
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    After a string of yellow cards last season, the Brazilian is yet to find his way into a whistler’s notebook this season.
    That could change here with the fast-pace football the Brighton trio in midfield will play.
    Their transitional play will cause United problems and the enforcer in the middle could find himself isolated at times, which has been a theme for the Reds this campaign.

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    Harry Maguire must be axed by England for Euro 2024.. it’s painful to watch Man Utd star after summer transfer blunder

    LIVERPOOL legend Jamie Carragher has urged Gareth Southgate to drop Harry Maguire from the England squad “for his own protection” ahead of Euro 2024.Maguire, 30, was taunted by Scotland fans during Tuesday’s international friendly at Hampden Park.
    Maguire has been heavily criticised by fansCredit: Getty
    The defender was booed by fans during England’s match against ScotlandCredit: PA
    Carragher believes Maguire should be dropped from the England teamCredit: Alamy
    He also received criticism from England supporters after scoring an own-goal in the 67th minute.
    Southgate stepped in to defend the centre-back after the match, blasting the “ridiculous treatment” of him.
    The England boss said: “I’ve never known a player treated the way he is. He’s been an absolute stalwart for us in the second most successful England team for decades – he’s been an absolutely key part of that.”
    He later added: “From a Scotland fans’ point of view I get it. I have absolutely no complaints with what they did. But it’s a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time.
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    “It’s a joke. Not by the Scottish fans but by our own commentators, pundits or whatever it is. They’ve created something that’s beyond anything I have ever seen.”
    Many fans and pundits questioned Maguire’s place in the squad given his lack of game time at club level.
    He has played just 23 minutes of Premier League football so far this season for Man Utd, with his only appearance coming against Arsenal just before the international break.
    The defender has also come under fire at Old Trafford, with some fans now turning against him.
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    Maguire has also come under fire at Man UtdCredit: PA
    The centre-back has made just one appearance for the Red Devils this seasonCredit: Getty
    And Carragher, who made over 500 Premier League appearances as a player and earned 38 senior England caps, believes the situation has become out of control.
    In his column for The Telegraph, the Liverpool icon wrote: “For his own protection, Harry Maguire should not play for England until his career is back on track. Personally and professionally the current situation is unsustainable.
    “There must be a frank and honest conversation with those closest to him about how to resolve a mess because this drama around him needs fixing.
    “I was watching the England versus Scotland match with my son, James. It was painful to watch. ‘If that was you, I would want you out of the firing line. This has gone too far,’ I told him as Maguire endured a nightmare second half.
    “My first thought after the game was that I really hope Maguire is okay. More than ever we are aware of mental health issues impacting on footballers, or anyone subjected to such unrelenting ridicule.
    “I cannot recall any top level player enduring as much as Maguire over several years and struggling to find a meaningful response to it.
    “I do not see how continually putting him on such a stage without regular, high class club football will help him get back to the level he was. This has to stop, first and foremost, for Maguire’s sake.”
    Carragher also believes Maguire should have left Old Trafford this summer in a bid to reignite his form after falling out of favour with Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag.
    The defender was linked with a move to West Ham, but talks broke down when the two parties failed to agree terms.
    Ex-Liverpool star Carragher claims it will be “unfeasible” for Maguire to be selected for Euro 2024 if he refuses to leave the Red Devils.
    He added: “He missed the opportunity to start landing a few punches when he turned down West Ham in the summer. David Moyes would have had the perfect manager in an ideal team for Maguire’s attributes. I am sure he would have been a success there.
    “Too many transfers stall because a player feels mistreated and refuses to leave without a pay-off. Maguire had to think beyond that, especially when considering his international career.
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    “It is unfeasible for a centre-back to go into the next Euros when they have not been a regular for their club for two years.”
    Maguire joined Man Utd in a record-breaking £80million transfer from Leicester in 2019 and has since made 176 appearances. More

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    Harry Maguire breaks silence after latest England jeers as defender sets out masterplan to win back Man Utd spot

    HARRY MAGUIRE says he can deal with all the stick he gets — and is on a mission to win back his Manchester United place.The England defender was taunted by Scotland fans when he went on as a half-time sub in Tuesday’s 3-1 friendly win in Glasgow.
    Harry Maguire has opened up about after being jeered on England dutyCredit: Reuters
    He has found himself far down the pecking order at United after being stripped of the captaicyCredit: Reuters
    And it ramped up after his 67th-minute own goal.
    But the ridicule is nothing new for the 59-cap veteran, who has seriously thick skin.
    Maguire said: “We knew it would be hostile against the Scots and in the second half I got most of it. I am happy to go with that, don’t worry.
    “They piled pressure on myself. I wouldn’t say I’m used to it but I can deal with it.
    READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS
    “I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally.
    “I have been through a lot in the last couple of years and I was Manchester United captain for nearly four years.
    “It was a huge honour and you take a lot of responsibility and everything that comes with it — and that is a lot of bad as well as good.”
    Asked about the endless baiting he is getting from opposing fans, Maguire smiled, and saw the positive side.
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    Maguire was targeted by Scotland fans at Hampden and scored an own goalCredit: PA
    But Maguire has thick skin and has learned to deal with the flakCredit: Getty
    He added: “Well, it pretty much takes the pressure away from my team-mates and puts it all on myself.
    “It makes them play better, for sure. It is a little bit of banter and it is a hostile environment, coming away to Scotland.”
    Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate branded criticism of Maguire as ‘ridiculous’ and a ‘joke’.
    Yet he continues to be frozen out of the United team by Erik ten Hag and has made just one brief appearance as a sub, in the 3-1 loss at Arsenal.
    The central defender, who lost the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes, was set to leave for West Ham in the summer but he ended up in a financial wrangle with United over his departure.
    Asked why he ended up staying at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old said: “We just didn’t come to an agreement.
    “They were happy for me to stay and I was happy to fight for my place.
    “I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally.”Harry Maguire
    “I want to do that — and every time I train or play, I will give everything. I want to play games, I want to play football.
    “The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager didn’t select me. But we have lots of games coming up now and I am sure I will play lots of games.”
    Maguire replaced Lisandro Martinez for the final 23 minutes of United’s trip to the Emirates on September 3 with the match level at 1-1.
    Arsenal then claimed victory through goals from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus in injury-time.
    Martinez, 25, limped off with a foot injury yet travelled to Argentina for international duty.
    But the centre-back was not included in the squad for the World Cup winners against Ecuador or Bolivia, so his availability for Premier League clash at home to Brighton on Saturday is in the balance.
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    Victor Lindelof was also replaced at Arsenal by deadline-day signing Jonny Evans after a bout of sickness but the Sweden defender led his country in both Euro 2024 qualifiers.
    First-choice Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw, who has been used as a centre-back option by Ten Hag, are both still injured. More

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    Man Utd to lose Andre Onana for up to seven games in January as Cameroon secured AFCON qualification by beating Burundi

    ERIK TEN HAG has been handed another headache after Cameroon booked their place at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.That means the Manchester United boss is likely be without first choice keeper Andre Onana for up to seven games in the New Year.
    Manchester United could be without Andre Onana for seven games after Cameroon qualified for The African Cup of NationsCredit: Getty
    His £43.8million summer signing from Inter Milan announced last month he would return to the international fold for the crucial final qualifier against Burundi.
    Onana, 27, is now expected to make himself available for the finals in the Ivory Coast which run from January 13 to February 11.
    And that will be a concern for Ten Hag as the keeper had quit international football when he was chosen as the man to replace David de Gea.
    The pair are set to hold talks over Onana’s plans in the coming weeks.
    READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS
    If he goes to Africa in January, it would leave Ten Hag with only recent £4.3m signing Turkey international Altay Bayindir and veteran Tom Heaton, 37, to choose from.
    Deadline-day midfield loan arrival Sofyan Amrabat is also likely to go to the tournament with Morocco — who clinched their place back in March.
    And two other players on United’s books, winger Amad Diallo and midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, will be going to the finals with Ivory Coast and Tunisia respectively.
    Meanwhile, United have named both Antony and Jadon Sancho in their Premier League squad for the season despite their recent problems.
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    Brazil winger Antony is on leave of absence as he tries to clear his name against allegations of domestic abuse.
    Sancho is back at United’s Carrington training ground but angered Ten Hag with a social media post aimed at the Dutchman following the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal 10 days ago. More

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    Inside Ten Hag’s ruthless revamp of Man Utd’s academy with no more cheap debuts and youngsters quickly sold

    ERIK TEN HAG has raised the bar for the standards Manchester United youngsters must reach in order to be kept at Old Trafford.The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford from Ajax last year, a club fabled for its incredible supply line of homegrown talent.
    Erik ten Hag has revamped United’s approach to academy playersCredit: Getty
    United have also produced an amazing number of players down the years, including the famous Class of 92.
    Ten Hag, however, has changed the way that the club view emerging talent.
    According to the Mail, the Dutchman has taken a more ruthless approach to evaluating young players.
    During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time in charge of United, 16 academy players were handed first-team debuts.
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    Ten Hag has so far resisted such sentiment, and has sent a number of academy players packing.
    In fact, none of the 16 starlets played by Solskjaer are first-team regulars under Ten Hag.
    Of players to feature for the Red Devils so far this season, only Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho spent time in the club’s academy.
    During the summer, Carrington hopefuls Matej Kovar, Teden Mengi, Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage and Marc Jurado were all sent packing.
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    Charlie Savage joined Reading in the summerCredit: Alamy
    Zidane Iqbal spent 11 years at United before being sold to UtrechtCredit: Getty
    While United also cashed in on Dean Henderson and Anthony Elanga to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest respectively for a combined £35million.
    The Red Devils were only able to fund Sofyan Amrabat’s deadline day loan move because of academy sales.
    And Ten Hag would rather prioritise incomings from elsewhere than take gambles on youth team starlets.
    Of course, there can be exceptional cases.
    Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 18, impressed in pre-season, but was cruelly struck down by injury.
    Mainoo’s fellow 18-year-old Dan Gore made the bench for Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal off the back of a strong pre-season.
    So Ten Hag won’t quite sell off all of United’s up and coming players just for the sake of it.
    But gone are the days of keeping players around out of any sense of loyalty or sentiment.
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    If they are deemed of really exceptional quality they will be kept around.
    Ten Hag has no interest, however, in keeping players into their 20s and giving them the odd League Cup run-out.
    Anthony Elanga joined Nottingham Forest for more first team actionCredit: Alamy
    Kobbie Mainoo impressed during pre-seasonCredit: Reuters More

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    Jadon Sancho is slow and plays like a Man City player – he’ll never win his fight with Ten Hag, says Man Utd legend

    JADON SANCHO has been branded “slow” and too much “like a Manchester City player” to win his fight with United boss Erik ten Hag.Ex-Red Devils defender Paul Parker made the astonishing claims and also believes the winger lacks the “drive” to save his Old Trafford career.
    Jadon Sancho has only himself to blame, according to Paul ParkerCredit: Getty
    It’s thought club chiefs are unsure if Sancho should play for United again.
    Ten Hag left the 23-year-old out of his squad for the 3-1 loss at Arsenal on September 3, insisting it was because the England ace had trained poorly.
    Sancho fired back at the “completely untrue” explanation and argued he had been “a scapegoat for a long time” – although on Tuesday he deleted that statement from his social media.
    Now Parker has given his incredible verdict on the saga.
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    The former Three Lions star reckons Sancho blew his big opportunity when he returned to action last season following a lay-off for physical and psychological issues.
    Parker told MyBettingSites.co.uk: “He had a very good chance of proving himself when he came back from his extended holiday but he did that.
    “He didn’t grab that chance and we never saw a change in him. 
    “Now he is trying to do a public fight with the manager and he is never going to win that fight regardless if he is right or not. 
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    “He might be right but the manager, the players and the fans have lost all respect for him.
    “It’s all about how Erik ten Hag sees things now. It’s up to him whether he should be given another chance but personally I think his time is up at Man United.”
    Parker was equally scathing in his assessment of the former Borussia Dortmund attacker on the pitch.
    The ex-Fulham and QPR man said: “From his first day at Man United, I could see that he was never going to be the wide player the fans expected.”
    “Fans expected him to be dynamic and full of energy. But he is slow and he plays like a Man City player, which is not what Man United are looking for. 
    “I don’t think there is a way back for him now.”
    Parker added: “He has never looked himself in the mirror and given himself the blame. He should realise that it’s his own fault but he doesn’t have this drive about him. 
    “I don’t think he has that bit about him that it takes to rejuvenate his career at Man United.” More

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    Mason Greenwood pictured at training in his seven-year-old boots days before he’s set to make debut for new club Getafe

    MASON Greenwood has been pictured at training in his seven-year-old boots days before making his debut for new club Getafe.The ex-England striker was seen preparing to make his football comeback with the Spanish La Liga club after his move from Manchester United.
    Mason Greenwood was seen leaving training with new club GetafeCredit: Splash
    The Sun revealed yesterday how the 21-year-old is expected to line up against Osasuna next Sunday afternoon after impressing coaches in training.
    Greenwood has not kicked a ball professionally since January last year when he made his final appearance for the Red Devils against West Ham United.
    He joined Getafe in a transfer deadline day deal on loan on September 1, after United had announced plans for him to leave.
    The forward has not played since being arrested in January last year on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
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    He remained suspended by United despite the Crown Prosecution Service dropping all charges in February.
    United and Greenwood announced on August 21 he would be departing in what the club described as a “collaborative decision”.
    His transfer to Getafe was sealed late on September 1, shortly before the English and Spanish summer transfer windows closed.
    He has been joined in Spain by partner Harriet Robson, also 21, with the pair looking at houses in the capital Madrid.
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    Getafe have published various videos of Greenwood’s unveiling at the club as well as footage showing him training with new team-mates.
    He was seen training in seven-year-old boots after sportswear firm Nike cancelled his contract with them last year.
    He has not signed a new deal with any boot-maker since then.
    But he has kept wearing his Nike Mercurial Superfly 4 boots.
    Earlier this summer he was pictured having a private training session in a Manchester park, wearing a pair of black Nike Phantom GX boots.
    Critics have called Getafe’s swoop for Greenwood “tone deaf” but club president Ruben Reyes insisted the player’s arrival was “just the same” as their other signings.
    Greenwood’s move away from Old Trafford was welcomed by ex-England and United defender Gary Neville, though the Sky Sports pundit branded the club’s handling of the situation “horrible”.
    BBC’s Match Of The Day presenter and former Three Lions captain Gary Lineker called United’s decision to cut ties with Greenwood “inevitable and right”.
    Women’s charities insisted football clubs should do better in future when dealing with such situations.
    Ardent United supporter Rachel Riley had threatened to no longer support the club if they allowed Greenwood back.
    The Channel 4 Countdown co-presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant said United “handled this appallingly”.
    Greenwood’s last outing was in a 1-0 Premier League win against West Ham United on January 22 last year.
    The CPS charged him last October, with a trial set for this November.
    But the case was withdrawn in February after alleged victim and 12 further witnesses declined to co-operate.
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    Greenwood, born in Bradford in West Yorkshire, played 129 times for United, scoring 35 goals.
    He was given his only England cap when manager Gareth Southgate brought him on as a late subsitute against Iceland in September 2020.
    The ex-England striker is said to have impressed his new coachesCredit: Splash
    The 21-year-old is tipped to make his La Liga debut on Sunday against OsasunaCredit: Splash More

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    Man Utd star says he will peak four years later than everyone else and play until he’s 40

    MANCHESTER UNITED star Scott McTominay reckons he’s a footballing late bloomer and will keep playing until he’s 40 – with the best yet to come.The 26-year-old has enjoyed a spell-bounding goal streak for Scotland during the international break.
    Scott McTominay says he has not reached his peak yetCredit: Kenny Ramsay
    The Scotsman’s remarkable performances for his nation has made the headlines ahead of Tuesday night’s “friendly” against England.
    McTominay now leads the Euro 2024 qualifying scoring charts with six goals and one assist in five games – ahead of club-mate Rasmus Hojlund and ex-United striker Romelu Lukaku.
    But the academy graduate believes he still has more to give.
    During an interview with Man Utd, McTominay admitted his peak might come later than the average player thanks to how he developed in the youth teams.
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    He told Man Utd: “My dad was brilliant because he would always say: ‘Just take your time, son’.
    “You’re going to grow and you’re going to get bigger,’ because he knows, doesn’t he?
    “As a kid, you don’t know that. And you always think: I’m always the latest one.”
    The 6ft 4in midfielder was always smaller than his peers at school and struggled to make a breakthrough in the United Under-18 team because of his size.
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    He missed most of the 2014–15 season due to a staggering growth spurt – shooting up 14 inches within two years.
    It was only after that he was able to become the star player he is today.
    He added: “When I did grow when I was 17 or 18, I was sat next to dad and I was above him.
    “I was like: ‘What’s going on here? Four years ago, you were saying to me not to worry, and now look.’
    “I’d be thinking to myself: I’m bigger than my dad and he’s 6ft 2in… so it’s crazy in that respect.”
    McTominay made his senior debut in 2017 and has since made 211 appearances for the Red Devils.
    He has recently fallen down the pecking order of Erik ten Hag’s squad with the arrival of Casemiro.
    But the midfielder is not concerned and believes he will enjoy a long career at the highest level well into his late thirties.
    He continued: “The way I see it now is that I grew maybe four years after everyone else, so my peak years are going to be four years later too.
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    “So I’m 26 now and my body age is technically like a 22-year-old.
    “When I’m 30, I might feel like a 26-year-old. I might retire at 38 or 40!”
    McTominay says his body is ‘technically like a 22-year-old’ and he might ‘retire at 40’Credit: Getty More