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Manchester United -v- Brighton and Hove Albion
Emirates FA Cup
Outdated Trafford, Manchester
Sunday eleventh January 2025; KO 16:30 GMT
Manchester United welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to the Theatre of Goals on Sunday afternoon within the third spherical of the Emirates FA Cup. Darren Fletcher will probably be main United into his second match as caretaker supervisor, which can even be his final earlier than he returns to the U18 squad on the membership. United wish to win.
Beating Brighton on Sunday at Outdated Trafford will drive the membership ahead and get them away from three darts on the bounce – two of which to the underside two groups within the Premier League this season – one debatable the worst of the Premier League period. Fletcher will probably be motivated to get United into Monday’s spherical 4 FA Cup draw.
Manchester United Prime Scorers & Assists
Bryan Mbeumo, 5 – Bruno Fernandes, 4 – Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesk, 3 – Mount Mason,
🅰️ 8 – Bruno Fernandes, 3 – Amazon, Patrick Dorgu, 2 – Diogo Dalot, 1 – Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, Ayden Heaven.
Brighton Prime Scorers & Assists
⚽️ 8 – Diego Gómez, Danny Welbeck, 3 – Yasin Ayari, Stefanos Tzimas, Jan Paul van Hecke, 2 – Maxim De Cuyper, Brajan Gruda, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter, 1 – Olivier Boscagli, Jack Hinshelwood, Harry Howell, Charalampos Kostoulas, James Milner, Yankuba Minteh, Matt O’Riley, Tom Watson, Joel Veltman
🅰️ 4 – Yankuba Minteh, 3 – Georginio Rutter, Tom Watson, Mats Wieffer, 2 – Diego Coppola, Brajan Gruda, Jack Hinshelwood, Harry Howell, Stefanos Tzimas, 1 – Yasin Ayari, Charalampos Kostoulas, James Milner, Kaoru Mitoma, Jan Paul van Hecke, Joël Veltman, Danny Welbeck
Predicted Manchester United XI:
Lammens;
Dalot, Yoro, Martínez, Shaw;
Mainoo, Casemiro;
Cunha, Fernandes, Dorgu;
Sesco
Predicted Brighton XI:
Bridge;
Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper;
Ayari, Massive;
Kadioglu, Gómez, Mitoma;
Rutter
Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens
Senne Lammens ought to preserve his place as United primary for his first FA Cup outing. The Belgian is the perfect goalkeeper on the membership presently and United ought to persist with him as regardless of targets being conceded, he has finished extra that Altay Bayindir or certainly Andre Onana – which is the primary motive to maintain selecting him.
The Belgian got here to the membership with rather a lot to show and in some phrases hue has confirmed himself as a goalkeeper worthy of preserving his place on the membership, which has not been stated since David De Gea was on the membership. United have made so many errors with goalkeepers over the 12 months – too many to say. Lammens shouldn’t be one.
Defence: Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw
The United defence is getting stronger now that Harry Maguire is again from damage however his return to motion will probably be managed, so guarantee he doesn’t endure an damage so quickly after recovering from one. It’s probably he will probably be on the bench towards Brighton. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw ought to begin as the total backs although.
Within the centre of the again 4, Leny Yoro needs to be recalled to the beginning XI and Ayden Heaven shifting to a spot on the bench – simply to maintain the squad contemporary for the matches which can be to return within the subsequent three weeks – Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal. Lisandro Martinez ought to preserve his place within the line of defense too.
Midfield: Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro
United’s midfield may change this weekend with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo taking part in collectively. Many individuals really feel that Mainoo needs to be taking part in forward of Bruno Fernandes, which is a wild perception to be truthful – however these individuals are on the market. Mainoo can now play within the midfield and present what he can do for United.
Ought to he not aspire to a lot, it’ll mirror on his brother, who wore the ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-Shirt at Outdated Trafford previously month or so. Mainoo has expertise and now he might want to present it. He didn’t match into Rubem Amorim’s plans but when he needs to stay at Outdated Trafford, he might want to power himself into United’s plans.
Attacking Midfield: Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu
United’s attacking line has some energy in it once more, which can get stronger with the preferred of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad after they get again from the AFCON match. Till then, United have the obtainable gamers, that are robust sufficient to get a win over Brighton within the FA Cup this season. That’s what they should do.
Matheus Cunha needs to be beginning, whether or not he performs on the left wing or the suitable wing. Patrick Dorgu additionally must be beginning, taking part in on whichever wing Cunha shouldn’t be taking part in on. Within the centre of the 2 wingers, Bruno Fernandes ought to be capable of begin, aiming to get greater than the 60 minutes he acquired towards Burnley.
Striker: Benjamin Sesko
Benjamin Sesko doubled his targets towards Burnley in midweek, elevating his tally to 4 targets this season. The striker must preserve scoring now that he has some service and there will probably be no excuses for him or United. It’s clear that Ruben Amorim was to not blame and that the issues lie within the possession of the membership.
However sure supporters will consider the stories of the supervisor being in charge and can as soon as once more overlook in regards to the homeowners and take a look at the supervisor as the issue – regardless of the identical drawback arising since Sir Alex Ferguson retired again in Could 2013. Sesko might want to hearth United to one thing this season. They want it badly.
Substitutes: Altay Bayindir; Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Ayden Heaven; Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, Jack Fletcher; Joshua Zirkzee, Shea Lacey
United may have 9 gamers on the bench towards Brighton within the FA Cup. Altay Bayindir would be the goalkeeper on the bench. In defence, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and Ayden Heaven may all discover themselves on the bench with Maguire being put again into the squad slowly following damage.
In midfield, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte and Jack Fletcher may very well be the one midfielders on the bench towards Brighton. In assault, need away ahead Joshua Zirkzee will stay on the bench together with up and coming ahead Shea Lacey, who did properly when he got here on towards Burnley in midweek.
Match Prediction
United should get out of the draw mentality which appears to have contaminated the Outdated Trafford membership of late. Drawing towards each Wolves and Burnley – the underside two groups within the Premier League desk is a horrible state of affairs to be in – these 4 factors dropped may imply one thing on the finish of the season.
Fletcher might want to discover a means for United to get the higher of Brighton as an exit from the FA Cup within the third spherical of the competitors will probably be one other poor reminiscence for United this season. There must be one thing for the membership to play for and the FA Cup must be it this season. United wants a win and an excellent one!
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
Written by Paul
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