Premier League | Brighton vs Man United Preview: Teams News, Predicted Lineups & Key Stats

Brighton have made a solid start to the season, impressing in just about every game they have played so far. The Seagulls began their 2020/21 campaign with a 3-1 loss to Chelsea, a game in which they ran the Blues close before being defeated. Since then, Graham Potter’s men have won three successive games.

These victories include the 3-0 hammering of Newcastle United in the Premier League last week, with the other two coming in the Carabao Cup. The most recent win, a 2-0 success at Preston North End set up a fourth round date with their opponents on Saturday, Manchester United.

The Red Devils kicked off their 2020/21 season late after being afforded extra days off due to their excursions in the UEFA Europa League. Their rustiness was visible in their opening match of the Premier League campaign, wherein they suffered an embarrassing 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace. But, Manchester United bounced back in the Carabao Cup this week, beating Luton Town 3-0.

The corresponding fixture last season ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for Manchester United, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood being the stars of the show.

Team News & Tactics

Brighton & Hove Albion

Bissouma will be serving the second of his three-match ban against Manchester United after being sent off against Newcastle United last weekend for kicking Jamal Lewis in the face. Meanwhile, the Brighton players who are in the treatment room are Christian Walton (ankle), Jose Izquierdo (knee) and Florin Andone (knee).

Mat Ryan is the undisputed choice in goal for Brighton and will hope to add to Manchester United’s frustrations with a stellar display between the sticks on Saturday. In front of him, Potter will line Brighton up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Ben White, Adam Webster and captain Lewis Dunk being deployed in the back-three.

In midfield, Potter can no longer call upon Dale Stephens after the 31-year-old completed his long-awaited switch to Burnley. And, with Yves Bissouma unavailable, Steven Alzate ought to have Davy Propper as his partner in the double pivot, with Adam Lallana missing out. Out wide, Solly March and the fit-again Tariq Lamptey should form the wing-back pairing for Brighton.

Finally, up front, the slight change in system seemed to make the attack more dynamic, with Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard starting as wingers before veering infield to create overloads centrally along with Aaron Connolly. The trio should pose a great deal of threat to a Manchester United defence that was shaky at best last weekend.

(3-4-3): Ryan; White, Dunk, Webster; Lamptey, Propper, Alzate, March; Trossard, Connolly, Maupay

Manchester United

Solskjaer made wholesale changes to his side for the Carabao Cup third round tie at Luton Town, with captain Harry Maguire the only player to retain his spot in the side. For his team’s second Premier League game of the season, the Manchester United boss should revert to nearly the same side that plummeted to a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace last weekend.

One of three changes to that side should see Eric Bailly replacing Victor Lindelof as Maguire’s partner at the heart of the Manchester United defence. The Ivorian received a lot of praise from Solskjaer during his pre-match press conference; and with Lindelof being a train wreck against Palace, Bailly could be given an extended run in the side.

A second change in defence will have Aaron Wan-Bissaka coming in for Timothy Fosu-Mensah in the right-back slot, with Luke Shaw starting on the opposite flank. In goal, David de Gea ought to start ahead of Dean Henderson, despite the Englishman’s solid display in the cup fixture.

Up ahead in midfield, Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba are expected to be paired in the double pivot. McTominay will shield the backline, while Pogba will look to pull the strings and link up with Bruno Fernandes and the Manchester United attack.

Fernandes will have a free role and will roam all around the pitch in order to find pockets of space before looking to set up the front men. Speaking of, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood will be the two wide men for Manchester United while Anthony Martial will spearhead the attack against Brighton.

(4-2-3-1): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

Key Stats

Brighton have won two of their last three league games, as many as they had in their previous 17 attempts. However, the Seagulls are without a win in each of their last five home games in the Premier League (D1 L4), conceding at least three goals in the four defeats.

Manchester United have not won their first away fixture of a Premier League campaign in either of the last two seasons, including a defeat at Brighton in 2018/19.

Brighton have never won more than one of their opening three fixtures in a top-flight campaign, but neither have they lost both of their first two home matches in a season at the level.

Manchester United have won four successive league matches on the road, by an aggregate score of 10-0. They were the most recent Premier League side to earn five consecutive away victories without conceding a goal, back in December 2011.

Pascal Gross has either scored a goal or provided an assist in each of his last four Premier League appearances against Manchester United. Two of his three goals in this fixture were winners.