4-3-3: Predicted Manchester United XI v Brighton, two changes as Ten Hag sends a message
Manchester United look to bounce back as they welcome a high-flying Brighton to Old Trafford on Saturday.
Brighton and Manchester United last met at Old Trafford on the opening day of the 2022/23 season, defeating Erik ten Hag in his first game at the Theatre of Dreams.
Over a year on, that loss remains the only home league loss inflicted on Ten Hag since his tenure began, he will want revenge.
His chances of getting revenge won’t be helped by the fact Brighton have improved ten-fold since that game at Old Trafford.
A loss following the week United have had would be catastrophic, however positive injury updates have got expectations once again, sky high.
Predicted Manchester United line-up v Brighton
Let’s look at how we think Manchester United will line-up at Old Trafford against Brighton, with various factors impacting selection.
In goal fairly obviously, Andre Onana will start in the hopes of picking up a second clean sheet this season, while Altay Bayindir will be on the bench.
We expect the full-backs to remain the same as they were against Arsenal with Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right and Diogo Dalot on the left. Sergio Regulion will make the bench again.
After concerns over both Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez who were both withdrawn against Arsenal, the duo are fit and expected to start. Harry Maguire will have to settle for a place on the bench.
With Sofyan Amrabat now known to be unavailable through injury, we think Ten Hag will go with his trusted trio of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, then Bruno Fernandes ahead of them.
On the left wing, Marcus Rashford will continue after he grabbed his first goal of the season against Arsenal. On the right, the absence of both Antony and Jadon Sancho should give Facundo Pellistri the spot by default.
Up front, we see our big Danish forward, Rasmus Hojlund grabbing his first start, and what a game to do it in.
Predicted XI vs Brighton: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Pellistri, Bruno, Rashford; Hojlund
