Manchester United returned to Premier League duty last weekend with an impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle but on Saturday they will be looking to bounce back from their first Champions League setback of the season by beating Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Basel spoiled the Red Devils’ previous 100 per cent record in Europe, and Chris Hughton’s Seagulls will be wary of a backlash from Jose Mourinho’s side. The Portuguese made seven changes for the fixture in Switzerland but should bring back a host of more familiar names in the bid for three more points.
Paul Pogba’s return to fitness over the last week has proved a huge lift, with the ability to call upon both Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after seven-month absences has strengthened Mourinho’s pack.
This will be the first league meeting between the two clubs in 35 seasons, and they have even matched up in an FA Cup final – United winning the replay 4-0 in 1983 – since that last match-up in the top flight.
MAN UTD INJURIES
Things appear somewhat rosier for Jose Mourinho and his medical staff compared to recent months following the returns of Pogba, Rojo and Ibrahimovic.
However, Michael Carrick has still to make a competitive comeback following a calf injury even if he has been back in some level of training over the past couple of weeks.
Phil Jones could be available once more after missing a first Premier League outing in 16 matches last week against Newcastle. Mourinho complained that the defender had been given six injections by the England medical team to get him through the international friendly against Germany earlier this month, only for him to then limp out of action within half an hour.
MAN UTD SUSPENSIONS
There are no suspension issues for the either side, both in terms of players missing out on the Old Trafford clash and sitting one booking shy of a potential ban for the forthcoming midweek round of Premier League fixtures.
MAN UTD POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
Jose Mourinho is expected to make a series of changes to his side following the loss to Basel but will also be wary of pushing some of his stars ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Watford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared eager to play a bigger part than the 20-minute run-out he got in Switzerland, and the United boss will have to decide whether to risk the Swede from the start or give him a longer substitute stint against Brighton. Elsewhere there is the chance of a recall for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has missed the last two matches due to a lack of form, while Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia could also step back in alongside the returning David De Gea.
Mourinho has a multitude of options at centre-back, with Phil Jones likely to come back in following his thigh injury. Marcos Rojo should be given the afternoon off, though, having completed his first full 90 minutes in seven months on Wednesday. A late decision will be made on Eric Bailly, who came back from international duty with an injury earlier this month.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION TEAM NEWS
After a difficult opening couple of weeks with consecutive defeats to Manchester City and Leicester, Brighton have taken to Premier League life quite well and find themselves sat in mid-table as they arrive at Old Trafford for a league game for the first time since March 1983.
Under Chris Hughton, the Seagulls have carried quite a threat in the attacking half, failing to score against only Arsenal in their last nine fixtures since Pascal Gross netted their first-ever Premier League goal against West Brom in September. The German has been Brighton’s star man so far this term, scoring three and assisting five of the club’s 13 league goals to this point.
While the enigmatic Anthony Knockaert is their flair forward down the right, the south coast side have also been boosted by the impressive centre-back pairing of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy. The much-travelled Glenn Murray has hit form in front of goal of late too, netting four times in his last four appearances.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
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Brighton have won only one of their 16 meetings in all competitions with Man Utd (D5 L10), with that sole victory coming in a home game in November 1982.
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Manchester United’s only home defeat against a team in their debut Premier League season came in 1996-97, losing 2-3 against Derby County. Indeed, the Red Devils have won their last 18 home Premier League games against sides in their debut Premier League season.
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Manchester United are now 38 games unbeaten at home in all competitions (W27 D11 L0) – they haven’t suffered a defeat at Old Trafford since losing 1-2 to Manchester City in September 2016.
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Jose Mourinho’s side (26 points) have made their best start to a Premier League season since 2012-13 (27 points from 12 games) – the Red Devils’ final season under Alex Ferguson and also their final Premier League title win.
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Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in half (25) of their 50 Premier League matches since the start of last season; more than any other side.
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Pascal Gross has been directly involved in 62% of Brighton’s 13 Premier League goals this season (three goals, five assists), the second highest ratio in the division after Tammy Abraham at Swansea (71%).
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Anthony Martial has been involved in seven Premier League goals this season (five goals, two assists), this despite playing only 374 minutes – averaging a goal involvement every 53 minutes.
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
The match at Old Trafford kicks off at 15:00GMT on Saturday, meaning it falls within the restrictions of the UK TV blackout.
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