Man United lock horns with Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in their Premier League game on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday afternoon, Manchester United will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford with a winnable game in mind.
The Reds, who have dropped all three of their league encounters with the Seagulls, will be hoping to avenge their 3-1 loss to Arsenal before the break. Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus scored late goals to hand the Reds their second loss in the past three games.
Despite winning two of their first four games this season at Old Trafford, United’s performances have generally been lethargic and lackluster. They desperately need to put on a performance that will motivate their fans.
Erik ten Hag, the manager, will thus be hopeful that despite being overshadowed by off-field drama, the international break came at the appropriate time for his players. On the other hand, he is still missing several important people due to injuries, so the situation is not as ideal as he would like it to be.
Despite all the uncertainties, Andre Onana, a summer acquisition, is expected to start in goal against Roberto De Zerbi’s team. He has started all four of the Reds’ initial contests and will be eager to earn his first shutout since the team’s 1-0 victory against Wolves on the opening weekend.
Following the confirmation that Lisandro Martinez is healthy and available, Ten Hag may elect to play with the same back-four against Arsenal instead of the former Inter Milan goalkeeper. Raphael Varane is still out, therefore he will likely accompany Victor Lindelof in the center of the defense.
Although Sergio Reguilon, who joined the team on loan on deadline day, is vying to start, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to remain at right-back and Diogo Dalot may line up at left-back as well. Ten Hag might not want to take a chance on changing the defensive line even more than it already has.
Ten Hag could make one adjustment to the midfield starting lineup against Arsenal last time out, giving Scott McTominay his first start of the year. The Scot might work with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in the engine room, with the Dane acting as the most experienced player.
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If Ten Hag decides to play Bruno Fernandes on the right wing without Jadon Sancho and Antony, McTominay might be included in the starting lineup. The most obvious choice to start on the right, Facundo Pellistri, should do so, but the Dutchman might decide against giving him his first Premier League start against such a risky opponent.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Fernandes start out wide again after doing so a few times last season. Regardless of who starts on the right wing, the assault should be finished by Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford.
Hojlund, who made his United debut against Arsenal as a second-half substitute, is deserving of being given his first start for the team and leading the attack. Rashford ought to remain in position to the left.
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, McTominay, Eriksen; Fernandes, Hojlund, and Rashford make up the anticipated United starting lineup.
