Premier League | Gameweek 22

Jan 19, 2025 at 2pm UK

Old Trafford

Man Utd vs Brighton

Match preview

Justifying the decision to hand him a lucrative new contract, Amad Diallo once again saved Man United's bacon during a visit from rock-bottom Southampton, who came within 10 minutes of a famous Theatre of Dreams success thanks to Manuel Ugarte's own goal.

A win for the Saints would have been deserved given Man United's dismal first-half performance, but Ivan Juric's side were not counting on Diallo becoming the second-youngest Man United player to score a Premier League hat-trick, behind only Wayne Rooney.

The 22-year-old's treble was enough to lift Man United to 12th in the Premier League table - closer to the top six than the relegation zone - and they have now won three games in a row in all competitions for the first time since Ruben Amorim took charge.

The Red Devils have not won three successive matches since February 2024, but while their performances against Liverpool and Arsenal may have been brave, their display against whipping boys Southampton was largely heartbreaking.

Ugarte's unfortunate own goal means that Amorim's men have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 consecutive games, and do not be surprised if the Red Devils suffer another first-half setback on Sunday, as each of their last 11 Premier League goals against Brighton have come after the break.

As Man United did the hard way on Thursday night, Brighton were spared a similar scare at Ipswich's Portman Road, where second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter saw the Tractor Boys go down to defeat.

The Seagulls' triumph in East Anglia was their long-awaited seventh Premier League win of the season, one that had eluded them for almost two months as they endured a miserable run of eight top-flight defeats, including a staggering six draws.

However, a 4-0 FA Cup thrashing of Norwich City kick-started a return to winning ways in the top flight for Fabian Hurzeler's men, who remain in the top half of the table, just four points adrift of sixth-placed Manchester City.

Brighton's recent penchant for stalemate means they head to Old Trafford unbeaten in five Premier League matches, and they are yet to be beaten away from home this season, having scored in each of their first 11 top-flight away games in 2024-25.

Downing the Red Devils has also become a favourite pastime for Brighton, who beat Erik ten Hag's Man United 2-1 in August to make it five wins from the last seven against Sunday's hosts, an impressive run that includes back-to-back victories at Old Trafford in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Recent Performance

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Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:LDDDDW

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):DDDDWW

Team News

Amorim is certain to receive a selection boost for Sunday's visit of Brighton, where Diogo Dalot will return from suspension after seeing red in the FA Cup win over Arsenal, meaning hat-trick hero Diallo could now operate further forward.

Fellow full-back Luke Shaw is also only a few weeks away from returning from a calf injury, but the Englishman is likely to miss this game along with Victor Lindelof (unspecified), Jonny Evans (muscle) and Mason Mount (thigh).

Few of Man United's starters justified Amorim's faith in them on Thursday, so another rotation for the Red Devils should see the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Christian Eriksen rewarded for their fine performances off the bench against Southampton.

As for Brighton, Hurzeler had no fewer than four replacements for the trip to Ipswich, with Rutter, Tariq Lamptey, Joao Pedro and Yankuba Minteh all shaking off knocks to make themselves available.

Igor Julio (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), James Milner (thigh) and Mats Wieffer (thigh) are all expected to miss the trip to Manchester, while Evan Ferguson (ankle), Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and new signing Diego Gomez will all have to prove their fitness in the coming hours.

The win over Ipswich also saw former Man United striker Danny Welbeck make his first Premier League appearance since early December, and the six-goal striker could be a candidate to replace Pedro if Hurzeler errs on the side of caution with the latter.

Possible starting lineup

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Eriksen, Ugarte, Dalot; Diallo, Fernandes; Zirkzee

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, O'Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck