Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion predictions: Red Devils enjoyment may be short-lived

- Brighton have won five of their last six Premier League meetings with Man Utd
- The Red Devils have won only three of their last 10 league matches
- Recommended bet: Brighton or draw double chance

Amad Diallo's dramatic late hat-trick turned the game around as Manchester United came from behind to defeat bottom club Southampton 3-1 on Thursday evening, but improvement is certainly required if they are to follow up at home to Brighton.

United looked on course to suffer a shock defeat to the struggling Saints before Diallo’s intervention, with the Ivorian youngster scoring three times in the final 12 minutes to spare the Red Devils blushes.

But Ruben Amorim’s side were lucky to still be in the contest at half-time and they could be vulnerable against Brighton, who are three places and five points above United in the table.

The Seagulls head to Old Trafford unbeaten in five league games, a run which includes draws with Aston Villa and Arsenal, and they have lost only one of the last seven meetings between these sides in 90 minutes.

Team news

Manchester United will be boosted by right-back Diogo Dalot’s return from suspension, meaning that hat-trick hero Diallo will be able to operate further forward.

There could be starts for Joshua Zirkzee and Christian Eriksen after their positive influences from the bench against Southampton, but Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Mason Mount remain sidelined.

For Brighton, Igor Julio, Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner and Mats Wieffer are all expected to miss the trip to Manchester, while Evan Ferguson, Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez remain doubtful.

However, former United striker Danny Welbeck is back in contention after his substitute appearance against Ipswich in midweek.

The stats

Manchester United have won only three of their last 10 league matches while they have lost five of their last six Premier League meetings with Brighton.

Both teams have scored in 11 of Brighton’s last 13 league matches.

The Seagulls are unbeaten in five league games, although four of those top-flight fixtures have ended in draws.

United have lost three of their last four home league games and have kept only two clean sheets in their last 10 top-flight matches at Old Trafford.

None of the 15 Premier League meetings between Manchester United (8 wins) and Brighton (7) have been drawn.

Each of United’s last 11 Premier League goals against Brighton have come in the second half.

Prediction

Manchester United were far from deserving of their 3-1 win over Southampton on Thursday and it seems they are at their best when able to use their pace on the counter-attack against stronger opposition.

The Red Devils struggle to create clear-cut opportunities from open play and there is a vulnerable look about them against Brighton, who have won five of the last six league meetings between the pair.

The Seagulls are far from the finished article under Fabian Hurzeler but on their day they can mix it with the Premier League’s elite and a five-game unbeaten run offers hope of them claiming a positive result at Old Trafford.

Back Brighton or draw double chance at 7/10 with LiveScore Bet

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