Brighton go to Manchester United in big night in the battle for the top four

Brighton head to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in a big night in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Jot that down as a sentence nobody in the right mind would have expected to be writing as the 2021-22 campaign enters mid-February.

Manchester United this season
The entire football world other than the red half of Manchester has enjoyed the car crash unfolding at the Theatre of Dreams this season, especially as it has been pretty much of United’s own making.

Unable to stomach the idea of Cristiano Ronaldo selling shirts for rivals Manchester City, the Glazers and Ed Woodward sanctioned the return of CR7 from Juventus despite everyone knowing that he was not the player United needed.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer had to find a way to crowbar Ronaldo into the starting XI and that completely unbalanced his team. Solksjaer paid with his job, former Southwick player Ralf Rangnick taking over until the end of the season.

Rangnick has at least had the bollocks to drop Ronaldo for the good of the team. Results though have not really improved and United currently sit fifth in the table with 11 wins, seven draws and six defeats to their name.

That leaves Manchester United seven points clear of Brighton with the Albion having a game in hand. If Graham Potter can mastermind a victory at Old Trafford and the Seagulls win that extra fixture at home to Spurs, they would be one point behind United. The race for Europe is very much on.

Team news
Potter’s team selection for the 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday had one eye on the bigger game away at United. Yves Bissouma and Alexis Mac Allister were both rested for the trip to Vicarage Road and they surely return to start at Old Trafford.

Who in place of is less clear. Adam Lallana might struggle to play two games in the space of 72 hours but he was outstanding at the weekend. Can Brighton really expect to win at Manchester United without their best technical player?

Pascal Gross is probably the most likely candidate to drop out and Jakub Moder too might be in danger of making way. Leandro Trossard might also be in line for a recall after sitting on the bench at Watford, perhaps at the expense of ex-United man Danny Welbeck.

The hosts meanwhile have a clean bill of health other than Nemanja Matic who is a doubt with a shin injury. There can be no excuses if the billion pound squad of Manchester United fall to a #TeamLikeBrighton.

Key battles
Ronaldo’s summer arrival might have caused problems for United as a team but on a personal level, he remains one of the best strikers in the world.

Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Joel Veltman will have their work cut out in stopping him. Doing so will be central to the Albion’s hopes of a famous win.

There are a couple of other intriguing battles that will be worth keeping an eye on involving two Brighton players who Manchester United have been liked with summer moves for.

Bissouma and Paul Pogba will go head-to-head in midfield. Many see Bissouma as a possible replacement for Pogba should the French international fail to agree a new contract with United, making this a potential audition for the Albion’s number eight.

United have also been urged to sign Tariq Lamptey in the summer. He is certain to provide England left back Luke Shaw with a real test off the back of an electric showing at Watford.

Recent form
United have won only two of their past six matches, including an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Middlesbrough in a penalty shoot out.

With Manchester City seemingly having the title sewn up already and there being more chance of me getting a belated Valetine’s Day card from Ariana Grande than United winning the Champions League, it looks like being another trophy-less season at Old Trafford.

No silverware makes this United’s longest run without winning a competition for 40 years. Another reason to point and laugh at a club whose supporters are often only attracted to them by the glory.

• 12/02/22: Man United 1-1 Southampton/li>
• 08/02/22: Burnley 1-1 Man United
• 04/02/22: Man United 1-1 Middlesbrough
• 22/01/22: Man United 1-0 West Ham
• 19/01/22: Brentford 1-3 Man United
• 15/01/22: Aston Villa 2-2 Man United

Brighton are on their longest ever unbeaten run in the Premier League, stretching back seven games to when Wolves left the Amex with three points in mid-December.

The Albion have lost only once on the road in the top flight this season, returning from United’s fellow European Super League Elite Six clubs Liverpool and Chelsea with draws.

• 12/02/22: Watford 0-2 Brighton
• 05/02/22: Spurs 3-1 Brighton
• 26/01/22: Leicester 1-1 Brighton
• 18/01/22: Brighton 1-1 Chelsea
• 14/01/22: Brighton 1-1 Crystal Palace
• 08/01/22: West Brom 1-2 Brighton

Last time Brighton played Manchester United
In a shock to absolutely nobody, Brighton were undone by a terrible piece of refereeing when they visited Old Trafford last April as big six bias was in full evidence.

Danny Welbeck was pulled back by Harry Maguire as he stretched to reach a low cross into the box. It was a clear case of denying a goal scoring opportunity and yet that shyster Mike Dean waved played on.

Welbeck had earlier given the Albion a half time lead, becoming the first ex-United player in history to score in three separate returns to Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford equalised on 62 minutes before Mason Greenwood found a winner seven minutes from time as United secured an underserved 2-1 victory.

Manchester United v Brighton head-to-head
Victories over Manchester United have been few and far between for Brighton, with only three to date. All of those have come in Sussex, meaning that the Albion would be making more history if they were to triumph at Old Trafford.

United have won 17 of the previous meetings, leaving five draws. Brighton’s most recent point at the Theatre of Dreams came from a 1-1 draw in March 1983, Steve Gatting scoring a little over two months before the sides met in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.

A reason why Manchester United will win
Because they will get a bent decision like they always do from biased refereeing. No, we are not over that Maguire foul on Welbeck, nor the 97th minute penalty awarded after the final whistle had blown at the Amex back in September 2020.

A reason why Brighton will win
The Albion have become rather good at breaking historical sequences under Potter. First wins at Villa Park, Deepdale and Goodison Park, a first point at Chelsea followed by a first goal at Stamford Bridge.

If ever there were a time to finally come away from Old Trafford with victory, this looks like it could be it.

Manchester United v Brighton betting
This might as well be a copy and paste job from our Watford match preview. Bet on the draw as the Albion have recorded more stalemates than anyone else in the Premier League this season.

Welbeck too loves a goal against his former clubs. It did not happen at Vicarage Road but it tends to occur whenever he returns to United so lump on him anytime goalscorer.

Predictions
Prediction of score: Manchester United 1-1 Brighton
Prediction of United getting game turning dodgy decision in their favour: 91st minute
Predicition of Neal Maupay goal celebration in front of Stretford End: SIUUUUUUUUU