The commencement of the Premier League season has posed quite a challenge for Manchester United. In the upcoming weekend clash, they face Brighton & Hove Albion, who are undoubtedly eager to compound the woes of the struggling hosts.
The Red Devils have indeed claimed triumph in both of their outings at Old Trafford, notching a meticulous 1-0 victory against Wolves and an exhilarating 3-2 conquest over Nottingham Forest. However, their fortunes have seen a somber shift, marred by defeats at the hands of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. This sequence of outcomes has relegated them to the lower echelons of the nascent season’s league table.
With summer acquisition Rasmus Højlund showing promise in his brief appearance at the Emirates Stadium, he may earn his maiden start. However, the availability of deadline-day addition Sofyan Amrabat is uncertain, and he joins a list of fitness concerns including Raphaël Varane, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Lisandro Martínez, adding to the challenges faced by Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag’s challenges extend beyond the confines of the pitch. During the recent international break, his clash with Jadon Sancho became the talk of the town, taking up column inches in the gossip columns. Meanwhile, off-field controversy has caused Antony to postpone his return to training, adding to the manager’s off-pitch woes.
Brighton has undeniably cemented its status as the Premier League’s foremost purveyor of excitement, flaunting an impressive tally of 12 goals in just four matches. This scintillating run of form, punctuated by a resounding 3-1 triumph over Newcastle in their most recent clash, has catapulted them to a prominent perch in the league hierarchy. Securing a positive result in this fixture would serve as an excellent prelude to their upcoming European debut on Thursday.
The clash between Manchester United and Brighton is scheduled for Saturday, September 16th, 2023.