Match Preview
On the other side, Manchester United began their season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham, thanks to a late goal from Joshua Zirkzee. The Red Devils, fresh from a penalty shootout loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield, were far from their best but managed to grind out the result. Erik ten Hag was pleased with the resilience his side showed and is urging them to build on that as they face a tricky trip to the South Coast.
United’s history with Brighton has been mixed, with the Seagulls being a thorn in their side in recent years. In fact, United have lost 43% of their previous 14 Premier League encounters with Brighton—their highest loss rate against any team in the division. With tough fixtures against Liverpool, Southampton, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham Hotspur looming, Ten Hag will be desperate to pick up maximum points this weekend.
Team News
Brighton will be without Solly March and Julio Enciso, who are sidelined with knee injuries, as well as Bart Verbruggen and Igor Julio, who are also out. However, there is positive news as Evan Ferguson, Pervis Estupinan, and Tariq Lamptey have all returned to training and could feature. Yankuba Minteh, who was substituted due to concussion protocols last weekend, is available, while Simon Adingra is ready to step in if needed. Brighton's club-record signing Georginio Rutter could make his debut off the bench.
Manchester United have their own injury concerns, with Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, and Rasmus Hojlund all unavailable. Victor Lindelof is also out with a toe injury. Ten Hag might stick with the defensive quartet that kept a clean sheet against Fulham, but new signing Matthijs de Ligt is pushing for a start, possibly at the expense of Harry Maguire. Zirkzee, after his match-winning goal, is expected to lead the line, allowing Bruno Fernandes to drop into his preferred No. 10 role. Alejandro Garnacho could be recalled to the starting lineup, with Amad Diallo or Marcus Rashford possibly making way.
Predicted Lineup
Brighton: Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood; Milner, Wieffer; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Key Insights and Predictions
2. Goals are expected in this matchup, with over 0.5 goals almost guaranteed and BTTS (Both Teams to Score) odds at 1.50, signaling a high likelihood of both sides finding the net.
3. The over 2.5 goals market reflects the potential for a high-scoring game, considering both teams' attacking capabilities.
4. The corner market also suggests plenty of action, with odds favoring over 9.5 corners, indicating numerous set-piece opportunities.
Odds Market on MSport
1. Brighton Win: 2.60
2. Manchester united Win: 2.63
3. Draw: 3.82
4. Over 2.5 Goals: 1.60
5. Under 2.5 Goals: 2.41.
