Brighton vs Manchester United preview
After taking a 3-0 shellacking at the hands of Sevilla in the Europa League QF, Erik Ten Hag’s charges seek to put things right against Brighton in another pivotal fixture.
FA Cup semis are here and so is United’s only remaining chance at a trophy this season. Roberto de Zerbi’s men are flying high this year and Manchester United’s creaking squad will have a battle on their hands to win this. Brighton have already beaten Manchester United, at Old Trafford no less. However, Graham Potter was still the manager at the time.
Since then, Brighton have gone from strength to strength. The Seagulls are one of the favourites for a European place through the Premier League. Moreover, they have become resident giant killers, routinely upsetting the elite order.
Brighton vs Manchester United team news
Brighton’s sterling form has partly been down to their injury luck. At the time of writing, the Seagulls have no injury worries apart from a long-term issue with Jakub Moder (Cruciate ligament rupture) and Jeremy Sarmiento (Metatarsal fracture).
Roberto de Zerbi has a full quota of players to choose from. He has also expertly integrated youth prospects like Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso into the senior team to beef up his ranks further.
His team has a settled look to it with players getting increasingly familiar with each other as they play together. Significant changes shouldn’t be expected from their usual XI. Danny Welbeck might come to the side in place of Evan Ferguson for his big-game experience. Ferguson can come off the bench to utilise his pace against tired legs.
Brighton Predicted XI: Sanchez, Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan, Caicedo, Gross, March, Mac Allister, Mitoma, Welbeck.
If Brighton are at one of the spectra with regard to injuries, Manchester United are at the other extreme. The effects of a long and arduous campaign have started showing on a squad that lacks quality beyond the first XI.
In the absence of the first-choice CB pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been unconvincing. Midfield will be somewhat strengthened with the return of Bruno Fernandes.
Marcus Rashford also returned from injury against Sevilla and should play a part here. The same goes for Luke Shaw. However, he will probably play as the left-sided CB to counter Brighton’s pace and open up natural passing angles. Jadon Sancho needs to pick his form up soon or risk losing his…
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