Brighton vs Manchester United – Match Preview

In partnership with

The Football Faithful

·23. August 2024

Brighton vs Manchester United – Match Preview

Manchester United travel down to Sussex on Saturday lunchtime as they visit Brighton and Hove Albion, with both teams looking to extend their perfect record.

A clean sheet apiece for Brighton and United ensured three crucial opening-day points as the former thrashed a despondent Everton side and the latter narrowly beat Marco Silva’s Fulham.

OneFootball Videos

Brighton vs Manchester United – Match Preview

Form

Brighton: W

It was opening day delight for Brighton and new head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who recorded his first win in charge 3-0 at Everton.

It seems as if the German has already put his tactical stamp on the Seaside outfit, with his system focusing on the flanks and his wingers profiting last weekend.

After a season that was plagued by injury, Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma tapped home to score Brighton’s first league goal of the fresh season. However, all the plaudits for the goal will go to Yankuba Minteh, with the Gambian putting the ball on a plate for Mitoma with a pinpoint cross.

Back at home in the #PL tomorrow! 👊🔜
– Freitag, 23. August 2024

Unfortunately, Minteh had to make way at halftime due to picking up an injury but Brighton continued to torment the Everton backline without him. Danny Welbeck was allowed time and space to drive through the heart of the Blue defence and pick it out the bottom corner to double their advantage.

Mitoma continued to run rings around the Toffees defence and Ashley Young hauled him down, leaving referee Simon Hooper with no choice but to give the Everton veteran his marching orders.

With the opposition down to ten players, Minteh’s replacement Simon Adringra completed the scoring with a precise finish from just outside the box.

Manchester United: W

The Red Devils left it late against Fulham with new signing Joshua Zirkzee’s 87th minute goal enough to claim all three points at Old Trafford.

The game was on a knife edge for the majority of proceedings, with both United and Fulham exchanging blows. Kenny Tete’s ambitious effort for Fulham forced Andre Onana into a smart stop before Bruno Fernandes missed a couple of guilt-edged chances for the home side.

Zirkzee came on as a substitute in the second period and announced himself to the Old Trafford faithful with a debut goal.

"It gives him confidence." Erik says Joshua Zirkzee's first United goal bodes well for the forward and the rest of his team 🇳🇱 #MUFC || #PL
– Donnerstag, 22. August 2024

He dropped deep to spray the ball out wide to fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho, before latching on to Argentine’s delivery to slide the ball past Bernd Leno.

Garnacho should’ve got himself on the scoresheet moments later, but somehow missed from six yards with the goal gaping.

Erik ten Hag will be pleased his substitutions made an impact and although the victory wasn’t entirely convincing, three points on the board is all that matters.

Last Meeting: Brighton 0-2 Manchester United, Premier League, 19th May 2024

This fixture usually conjures up the unexpected, but the last time they met it was a fairly underwhelming affair.

That was largely down to the game being a dead rubber for both clubs. Brighton had already been consigned to a mid-table finish and Manchester United had a slight chance of securing Europa Conference League football. However, almost all of their attention was on the upcoming FA Cup Final against Manchester City.

Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund netted late at the Amex Stadium to end their campaign on a positive note, with the Seagulls failing to assert themselves in Roberto de Zerbi’s final game in charge.