Match Preview: Brighton vs Manchester United

Brighton vs Manchester United | Premier League| Amex Stadium|KO: 20:15 GMT| Sky Sports
The matches keep coming thick and fast for Manchester United at the moment. Following their 2-1 extra-time victory against Norwich in the FA cup on Saturday, The Reds travel to the south coast, to face a Brighton side who sit fifteenth in the Premier League, just six points above the drop zone.
The hosts have had an entire weeks’ rest following their 0-0 bore draw against Leicester City, so will enter the game in much better condition than a United side that endured 120 tough minutes against The Canaries just 72 hours earlier.
How do Manchester United look?
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited, again, escaped Saturday’s cup tie unscathed, with no notable new injuries to the squad. However, with a number of first team players playing a large majority of the match, there may be a few weary legs amongst the ranks at the club.
One notable concern that came from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s press conference was the revelation that youngster Angel Gomes is expected to leave United when his deal expires, on Tuesday.
When questioned on whether Gomes would be staying, Solskjaer gave a stern and simple answer, saying “I’ve got no news, nothing. So, it doesn’t look like it.”. Many United fans will find it a shame that a player who showed so much promise will be leaving for free, given the fact that he is the club’s youngest ever Premier League player, and that he is so highly regarded by so many at the club.
The exact details as to why Gomes hasn’t renewed his contract are yet to emerge, but United will be hoping that this scenario isn’t a repeat of the Paul Pogba one of a few years ago- where we allow a player to leave for free and then have to pay a world record fee just a few years later to bring them back.
The boss was also asked about the form of Marcus Rashford, who is yet to reach his ‘pre-injury heights’ following his return from a back problem. To this, Solskjaer replied “I think he’s looked sharp. I think he came on and looked sharp again against Norwich. Sheffield United he did miss, yeah, one or two chances, but the goals he created, I think that is what we are focusing on and I think Marcus is on his way to his best season ever at Man United. So, for me, I’m just looking forward to him getting more and more minutes. He will definitely score a goal soon.”
Opposition: Brighton Hove Albion
Manchester United have lost in each of their previous two league visits to The Amex, so will be well aware of the threat The Seagulls pose to them.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir top scorer this season is Neal Maupay, a striker that mid-table Arsenal know all about, following their 2-1 defeat to Tuesday’s hosts. In their fixture against The Gunners, the Frenchman scored a last-minute winner and ruffled a few feathers within the Arsenal camp, with his post-match comments further riling up the North London outfit.
Beyond Maupay’s nine goals, Brighton don’t offer much offensively, with their next four top scorers all level on three goals. Within these is centre half Lewis Dunk, showing the lack of attacking options they have had on the pitch this season.
Key Stat
Manchester United are now unbeaten in fourteen matches, a run that stretches back to their 6-0 annihilation of Tranmere Rovers way back in January, so will fancy their chances of making it fifteen on the south coast come 20:15 on Tuesday night, with the prospect of a Champions League finish well in their sights.
Prediction
Brighton 0-2 Manchester United. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba.
Match Preview Writer