Man United went into the international break at the back of a 3-1 to Arsenal and next up, they will take on a superb performing Brighton side at Old Trafford.
Brighton are playing some eye-catching football in recent times and this home game will be as challenging as the Arsenal tie. Man United have made a very average start to their 2023/24 season and if they cannot pick up three points on Saturday then Ten Hag and his boys will be in deep trouble.
Last campaign, the Seagulls did the league double over United and the way the Red Devils are playing right now, an upset is very much on the cards. Manchester United and Brighton have not drawn any of their last 15 matches against each other so with are expecting a result, one way or the other.
Utd are three points behind Brighton so a win on Saturday will bring them level on points with the Seagulls and also closer to that top-four. The Red Devils will play their first Champions League group stage match next week so Ten Hag will have one eye on that match.
Manchester United’s team news and injuries:
The injury list for the Red Devils is huge and setting up a strong defence is going to be a major issue for Erik ten Hag. Varane is out for a few weeks while Martinez and Lindelof were both taken off during the Arsenal game.
Lindelof was ill so he will come back into the side and as per reports, Lisandro’s injury is not serious either. If the assumptions are correct then he should also be available for selection this weekend.
The manager had said: ‘Licha, as you know, had an issue with his feet. In the last game, he was in pain went out for precaution. They have done studies, and he’s well. We’ll evaluate whether to use him or not.’
Martinez has returned to full training this week so he will be really to feature against Brighton.
Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also injured but the latter should be fit in time. However, Man United have signed Sergio Reguilon so Ten Hag won’t be too worried about the left-back role.
The midfield is another point of concern because Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount are both out injured while the latest signing Sofyan Amrabat is also dealing with a lower back injury.
He was rested for the international break but his national team coach has claimed that his absence was just a precaution so hopefully, Amrabat will be available for selection on Saturday.
The manager had said: ‘Sofyan felt something, and we let him go as a precaution because he has just started his new adventure with Man United.’
All eyes will be on Amarbat because he was a much-needed signing for Man United but if he is not 100% then Ten Hag will likely go with Eriksen as the second central midfielder.
Jadon Sancho’s relationship with Erik ten Hag has broken down while Antony will not be playing for Man United until further notice due to all the allegations which is a major issue for the manager.
With both Sancho and Antony missing, Garnacho or Rashford will have to play out of position, out on the right-hand side or there’s also a chance that ETH will put Bruno Fernandes out wide.
Fernandes has previously played as a wide attacker and if Amrabat is available then the Man United manager could put the club captain on the right and use Christian Eriksen as the No 10. Antony will not be returning for some time so whatever Ten Hag puts out this weekend could be followed for the next couple of game weeks.
Rasmus Højlund looked really bright during his small stint against Arsenal and now that he has fully recovered from his injury, the striker will come straight into the starting XI.
Manchester United will head to Germany to take on Bayern Munich next week but with so many injuries, the manager cannot afford to rest too many players.
Man United predicted line up vs Brighton:
Predicted Starting line up(4-2-3-1): Onana; Reguilon, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez/Maguire; Casemiro, Amrabat; Eriksen, Rashford, Fernandes; Hojlund.
