A dress rehearsal for a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final against Manchester City takes Manchester United to East Sussex for their last game of a forgettable 2023/24 Premier League season.
Beating out-of-sorts Brighton & Hove Albion is an absolute must for Erik ten Hag’s side as they remained in the hunt for European football with an enthralling 3-2 home win against Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Young blood stepped up to the plate to keep the Red Devils alive in a fierce top-eight battle, with Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund hitting the net against the Magpies.
Hojlund’s late strike eventually made the difference, making him the most lethal finisher in the Premier League, according to ManUtd.com.
Out of 191 players to have taken 10+ shots in England’s top flight this season, the Denmark international boasts the best conversion rate of 47.4%, with nine of his 19 attempts ending in the back of the net.
Captain Bruno Fernandes chipped in with an assist as United squeaked past Newcastle to enter the season finale level on points with Eddie Howe’s side.
In his recent interview with Sky Sports, Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney urged the club to ‘get rid of all players but Fernandes’ as the club prepares for a critical transfer window.
Rooney’s words are not far from the truth.
United could finish the season with a negative goal difference, plus they are staring down the barrel of their worst final placing in the Premier League era unless they better Newcastle’s result on the last day.
Brighton might have been a thorn in Man Utd’s side, beating them across their last four league encounters, but these are not pleasant times for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Fights on multiple have taken their toll on the Seagulls, who, after losing 2-1 at home to Chelsea in midweek Premier League action, can only hope to secure a top-half finish.
Since being crashed out of the Europa League by Roma, De Zerbi’s men have only won once in nine league matches (D3, L5), courtesy of a narrow 1-0 home triumph against Aston Villa a fortnight ago.
However, goals have been at a premium for last season’s surprise package, as they’ve netted one or fewer in their seven most recent competitive home outings at an average of 0.71 per game.
Brighton’s scoring problems could be what the doctor ordered for Ten Hag’s injury-torn backline that last kept a clean sheet in the Premier League in early March.
On the road, however, the Red Devils are without a league shutout since a scoreless draw at Liverpool in mid-December. Since then, they’ve conceded 2+ goals on eight of their ten top-flight travels.
Porous rearguard is the reason Man Utd haven’t won any of their last five Premier League games on hostile turf (D2, L3), including a miserable 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on their most recent trip.
Another concern for the under-pressure Ten Hag is that his men have drawn a blank on both Premier League visits to the Amex Stadium under his stewardship (L2).
Ten Hag confirmed Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof are back in training in the pre-game interview, but both should stay on the bench ahead of the upcoming FA Cup final.
Luke Shaw is at risk of missing out on the Wembley showpiece, as are Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount and Anthony Martial.
On the upside, Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford are in contention for the starting XI after coming off the bench against Newcastle.
(4-2-3-1): Andre Onana; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Diogo Dalot; Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen; Amad Dialo, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho; Rasmus Hojlund.
