“Although he didn’t scored against Southampton but he was their best player and I’m really scared to see him play against my team on Sunday”: Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler names the only Man United’s player is so scared to face on Sunday

Hoping to slay a second South Coast team at Old Trafford in the space of a week, Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion in Sunday afternoon’s Premier League scrap.

The Red Devils needed a dash of Ivorian inspiration in Thursday’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton, while the Seagulls enjoyed a more routine 2-0 triumph at Ipswich Town.

Match preview

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

Victory for the Saints would have been merited based on Man United’s pitiful first-half performance, but Ivan Juric’s side did not bank on Diallo becoming the second-youngest Man United player to ever score a Premier League hat-trick; he only trails Wayne Rooney in that regard.

The 22-year-old’s tremendous treble was enough to lift Man United up to 12th in the Premier League standings – now closer to the top six than the relegation zone points-wise – and they could now win three straight games in all competitions for the first time since Ruben Amorim took charge.

Not since February 2024 have the Red Devils prevailed in a trio of consecutive contests, but while their displays against Liverpool and Arsenal might have been gutsy, their exploits against whipping boys Southampton were gut-wrenching for the most part.

Ugarte’s unfortunate own goal means that Amorim’s men have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 straight contests, and do not be surprised to see another fruitless first half from the Red Devils on Sunday, as each of their last 11 Premier League goals against Brighton has been struck after the interval.

As Man United did it the hard way on Thursday evening, Brighton were not required to survive any similar scares at Ipswich’s Portman Road base, where second-half strikes from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter took down the Tractor Boys.

The Seagulls’ East Anglian success represented a long-awaited seventh Premier League win of the season, one that had eluded them for almost two months as they embarked on a miserable eight-game winless sequence in the top division, including a staggering six draws.

However, a 4-0 FA Cup battering of Norwich City acted as the catalyst for a return to victorious ways in the top flight for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, who remain in the top half of the standings with just a four-point deficit to make up to Manchester City in sixth spot.

Thanks to their recent affinity for stalemates, Brighton head to Old Trafford unbeaten in five straight Premier League matches, and they are yet to draw a blank on rival territory this term, scoring 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 saw off Erik ten Hag’s Man United 2-1 in August to make it five wins from their last seven against Sunday’s hosts, a marvellous sequence that includes back-to-back victories at Old Trafford in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Merson makes ‘big pitch’ claim for Man Utd match

Manchester United’s win over Ivan Juric’s Southampton side ensured that the Red Devils climbed to 12th place in the Premier League table.

The Red Devils have won only seven of their 21 league matches in the 2024-25 campaign and United are 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Ruben Amorim’s men are unlikely to mount a challenge for the Premier League top four now, with fourth-place Newcastle 12 points clear of United.

Brighton, on the other hand, are four points clear of the Red Devils ahead of their Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Speaking in his column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson claims that Brighton will benefit from the “big pitch” at Old Trafford against United.

“It’s a hard game to guess because both Manchester United and Brighton are playing tonight [Thursday],” he said.

“I expect Manchester United to beat Southampton, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t win either because we’re talking about Manchester United after all!

“I actually think Brighton will win this game at Old Trafford. It’s a big pitch there and I expect Brighton to go through them with ease.

“This is a game that really suits Brighton and that’s why I think United are in trouble here.”

Merson’s prediction for Man Utd vs Brighton
Brighton have won only one of their last five Premier League matches under Fabian Hurzeler, with the Seagulls picking up four draws.

Fabian Hurzeler’s men thrashed Norwich City 4-0 at Carrow Road in the FA Cup last week before beating Ipswich Town 2-0 in the Premier League on Thursday.

Merson admitted that he would not be ‘shocked’ if United ‘slipped up’ at Old Trafford and the Sky Sports pundit backed Brighton to win 2-1 on Sunday.

“No-one expected Ruben Amorim to win against Liverpool and Arsenal, so they had that freedom to play like they wanted,” he continued.

“But this is a different game and even if Brighton are above them in the table, it’s a game they should win.

“I think that could be a problem for Manchester United. It wouldn’t shock me if they slip up at home again this weekend.”