Man Utdvs.Brighton

The Red Devils needed a dash of Ivorian inspiration in Thursday's 3-1 comeback win over Southampton, while the Seagulls enjoyed a more routine 2-0 triumph at Ipswich Town.

Match preview

Justifying the hierarchy's decision to award him a lucrative new contract, Amad Diallo saved Man United's bacon once again during the visit of rock-bottom Southampton, who were just 10 minutes away from a famous Theatre of Dreams success thanks to Manuel Ugarte's own goal.

Victory for the Saints would have been merited based on Man United's pitiful first-half performance, but Ivan Juric's side did not bank on Diallo becoming the second-youngest Man United player to ever score a Premier League hat-trick; he only trails Wayne Rooney in that regard.

The 22-year-old's tremendous treble was enough to lift Man United up to 12th in the Premier League standings - now closer to the top six than the relegation zone points-wise - and they could now win three straight games in all competitions for the first time since Ruben Amorim took charge.

Not since February 2024 have the Red Devils prevailed in a trio of consecutive contests, but while their displays against Liverpool and Arsenal might have been gutsy, their exploits against whipping boys Southampton were gut-wrenching for the most part.

Ugarte's unfortunate own goal means that Amorim's men have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 straight contests, and do not be surprised to see another fruitless first half from the Red Devils on Sunday, as each of their last 11 Premier League goals against Brighton has been struck after the interval.

As Man United did it the hard way on Thursday evening, Brighton were not required to survive any similar scares at Ipswich's Portman Road base, where second-half strikes from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter took down the Tractor Boys.

The Seagulls' East Anglian success represented a long-awaited seventh Premier League win of the season, one that had eluded them for almost two months as they embarked on a miserable eight-game winless sequence in the top division, including a staggering six draws.

However, a 4-0 FA Cup battering of Norwich City acted as the catalyst for a return to victorious ways in the top flight for Fabian Hurzeler's side, who remain in the top half of the standings with just a four-point deficit to make up to Manchester City in sixth spot.

Thanks to their recent affinity for stalemates, Brighton head to Old Trafford unbeaten in five straight Premier League matches, and they are yet to draw a blank on rival territory this term, scoring in each of their first 11 top-flight away games in 2024-25.

Downing the Red Devils has also become a favourite pastime for Brighton, who saw off Erik ten Hag's Man United 2-1 in August to make it five wins from their last seven against Sunday's hosts, a marvellous sequence that includes back-to-back victories at Old Trafford in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Manchester United Premier League form:

W

L

L

L

D

W

Manchester United form (all competitions):

L

L

L

D

W

W

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:

L

D

D

D

D

W

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):

D

D

D

D

W

W

Team News

Amorim is guaranteed to receive one selection boost for Sunday's visit of Brighton, where Diogo Dalot will return from suspension after seeing red in the FA Cup win over Arsenal, meaning that hat-trick hero Diallo could now operate further forward.

Fellow full-back Luke Shaw might only be a couple of weeks away from returning from a calf injury too, but the Englishman is sure to sit this one out alongside Victor Lindelof (unspecified), Jonny Evans (muscle) and Mason Mount (thigh).

Few Man United starters justified Amorim's faith in them on Thursday, so another batch of Red Devils rotation should see impactful substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Christian Eriksen rewarded for their fine feats off the bench against Southampton.

As for Brighton, Hurzeler had no fewer than four fillips for the trip to Ipswich, where Rutter, Tariq Lamptey, Joao Pedro and Yankuba Minteh all shook off issues to make themselves available, but the treatment room is still well-stocked.

Igor Julio (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), James Milner (thigh) and Mats Wieffer (thigh) are all expected to miss the trip to Manchester, while Evan Ferguson (ankle), Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and new signing Diego Gomez must all prove their fitness in the coming hours.

The beating of Ipswich also saw ex-Man United forward Danny Welbeck make his first Premier League appearance since early December, and the six-goal striker might be a candidate to replace Pedro if Hurzeler errs on the side of caution with the latter.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Eriksen, Ugarte, Dalot; Diallo, Fernandes; Zirkzee

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, O'Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck

We say: Manchester United 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Hurzeler's Seagulls are yet to be kept at bay on the road this season, while Man United were nothing short of embarrassing against Southampton and cannot rely on 22-year-old Diallo to bail them out forever.

Written by

Ben Knapton

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