A fresh-looking United side under new manager ten Hag, will be looking to kick start their season with a convincing victory but I can’t see it being that one way. If Brighton can weather the early storm and get a foothold in the game, the Old Trafford faithful might need to conjure up some of that Theatre of dreams, last minute winner magic.
Sound advice would be to see the starting line up before placing any player related bets because who knows what it’ll be, pre-season gives nothing away and neither does the form. United started with big wins against Liverpool 4-0, Melbourne Victory 1-4, and Crystal Palace 3-1. Then after being 2-0 up at H/T against Aston Villa and eventually drawing 2-2 things haven’t gone their way, with a 0-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid decided by a late Joao Felix strike and a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Rayo Vallecano.
Graham Potter’s side started pre-season with a 0-0 draw at home to Royale Union SG, then they picked up B2B away wins over Estoril 1-4 and Reading 1-2. Then came a 0-1 home loss to Brentford, and their last game saw Trossard hit a 15-minute hat-trick In a 5-1 trouncing of Espanyol. Only finishing 7 points and 3 league places behind Man Utd last season Brighton will come here looking to nick a point at least.
As there’s never been a PL draw in this H2H from 10 matches, Man Utd’s 7 wins to Brighton’s 3 and with the last fixture being a 4-0 demolition, United will want revenge.
Key stats
* 50% of last 10 H2Hs BTTS
* United no win in last 3 matches
* Brighton only 1 lose in last 10 games
* United have won 4 out of 5 last H2Hs
* Brighton’s 3 wins all came at home
I’m going to go for a bore draw in this one… 0-0, I just can’t see United having enough fire power to break down what’ll be a very resolute Brighton backline. I think they’ll park the proverbial bus, whilst looking to see out the game and take a point back to the Amex.
