Key events
4 min: Mbeumo gets involved again, slipping a pass down the inside-right channel for Cunha, who slices an effort from a tight angle into the side netting. The move began when Dunk played out from the back to Baleba, who had his back turned on play. Fernandes and Casemiro swarmed to get things going for the hosts. Careless by Baleba.
2 min: Both teams spend a little time getting to know the ball. Meanwhile here’s a pre-match prediction from Bob Bummer Kári Tulinius: “This game fills me with trepidation. When Brighton play to their full potential, their football is beautiful, but when United are at their best, they’re horrible to play against. I fear that Amorim will find a way to turn this match into beige sludge.”
35 secs: Mbeumo loops a cross in from the right. Fernandes wafts a header wide right. A bit more pace on either and United were off to a flyer.
Everyone takes a knee to send out the message that there’s No Room For Racism … then the hosts kick off. Brighton are kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.
The teams are out! Manchester United in red, Brighton in blue and white stripes. This Is The One, as some local Byrds derivatives would have it. We’ll be off in a minute. (Incidentally, on the pitch a few minutes earlier, Gary Neville was handed a trinket by his boyhood hero Bryan Robson in honour of his becoming the 25th inductee of the Premier League Hall of Fame.)
Fabian Hürzeler (32) talks to Sky about his striker Danny Welbeck (35 next month). “We go in every game with a lot of self-belief … confidence … individual quality … team quality … that’s the approach today … we believe to win it … the past speaks for us but it is a new game … a new challenge … start from point zero … do the basic things right and we have a chance to win it … courage … try to control the opponent in possession … defence … intensity against the ball … [Welbeck] is getting better and better … like a really good wine, the older he gets, the better he gets … the work he does in the shadow … a great connector … brings the different cultures together … the different ages together … so crucial … so, so impressive.”
Amorim: Maguire hopefully back next week
Ruben Amorim speaks to Sky Sports. “At this kind of club it doesn’t matter the last game, it’s the next one … today we have a different game … still with the responsibility of winning, of performing … we had some issues at Anfield … we know that … we don’t try to hide all of the things with a win … we worked during the week … we want to perform better this week … different game, different characteristics … we should use the squad … nowadays you don’t know the best XI … it depends on the opponent, the moment … I hope to have Harry [Maguire] next week … it’s a simple thing but I don’t like to take risks … everyone is important … [Matheus Cunha] is a maverick … he needs to improve the way he defends.”
The 3pm kick-offs have finished. What a day it’s been for our friends in the north, as Newcastle beat Fulham 2-1 at St James’ Park, while Sunderland shock Chelsea by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge to rise to second place. Billy Munday has the details in Clockwatch. None of that has any bearing on Manchester United or Brighton, who remain where they were this morning. Both teams can move into fourth for a couple of hours at least with a win at Old Trafford tonight. Sunderland in second, though!
Pre-match patter. Ruben Amorim doesn’t much care for the opinions of Arne Slot …
… but Danny Welbeck is highly concerned with the thought processes of Thomas Tuchel. Jamie Jackson and John Brewin take turns to investigate.
Manchester United make two changes in the wake of their 2-1 win at Anfield last weekend. Benjamin Šeško comes in for Mason Mount, who drops to the bench, while last week’s win-securing hero Harry Maguire doesn’t feature at all, Leny Yoro taking his place in defence. Maguire picked up an injury during training this week. Tyrell Malacia is named in a Premier League squad for the first time this season.
Brighton & Hove Albion make one change after their 2-1 home win over Newcastle. It’s ostensibly a defensive one, swapping in Maxim De Cuyper for Diego Gómez, who drops to the bench. Danny Welbeck, a member of the last Manchester United squad to win the Premier League, in 2012-13, returns to Old Trafford on a hot streak of four goals in three games, one more than he’d managed in his previous 15.
The teams
Manchester United: Lammens, Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, Dorgu, Ugarte, Heaven, Mainoo.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Ayari, Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper, Welbeck.
Subs: Steele, Tzimas, Watson, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Gomez, Coppola, Oriola.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
VAR: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Preamble
Manchester United, having just beaten Sunderland and Liverpool, look to make it three Premier League wins on the bounce this evening. The wind’s behind them under Ruben Amorim for the very first time! Only problem is, their visitors tonight are Brighton & Hove Albion, who have won on each of their last three trips to Old Trafford, and six of the last seven League meetings between the clubs. Never mind the wind behind; for the Seagulls, it’s been a breeze. Having said all that, Brighton are otherwise as gloriously unpredictable as their hosts, so this game is both fascinating and potentially rollickingly good entertainment. Kick-off is at 5.30pm (and we say this for the last time in a while, because remember the clocks fall back tonight, kids) BST. It’s on!
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