Brighton and Manchester United will face off in the Premier League on Thursday night in what is expected to be a thrilling match. The two teams have met twice this season, with United winning the FA Cup semi-final clash, and Brighton winning the first season’s battle at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are currently sitting pretty in the race for a spot in the top four, while Brighton are vying for a chance to secure European football. Both teams have shown inconsistency this season, which makes this match very unpredictable.
Brighton will be looking to field a formidable lineup, despite having some concerns regarding injuries. Manager Roberto De Zerbi has canceled the pre-match conference due to his illness, and right-back Joel Veltman limped off against Wolves and could miss out. However, there are expected returns to the lineup for heavy hitters Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma, and Levi Colwill.
On the other hand, United will be without Raphael Varane, Scott McTominay, Alejandro Garnacho, Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek, and Tom Heaton. Questions surround the United team’s recent form, with many wondering if Aaron Wan-Bissaka will get the nod at right-back, and if Jadon Sancho will be given a spot in the starting lineup after his underwhelming performance against Aston Villa.
This matchup is one of the few fixtures in the Premier League that could end with any scoreline due to both sides’ unpredictability. Brighton and United have the ability to blow each other away, but both teams are inconsistent enough to make a significant humbling feasible.
Ultimately, the two teams are expected to cancel each other out and share the spoils, as was the case in the semi-final.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Man Utd.
