Premier League: Seagull seek Revenge

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United

Brighton welcome Manchester United to the Amex Stadium on Thursday, and the Seagulls are hoping to avenge a heart-breaking FA Cup exit to the Red Devils… just over a week ago.

The South Coast club were the better side for much of their semi-final clash but the Manchester men held their nerve to win a penalty shootout and book a final place against Manchester City. So Premier League: Brighton vs Manchester United gives the Seagull’s a chance to grab their revenge; they currently sit in eighth place, 11 points behind the Red Devils in fourth, but with a game in hand. 

Roberto de Zerbi has done a fantastic job at the helm of Brighton and his team comes into the game on the back of a 6-0 hammering of Wolves, while Manchester United edged out Aston Villa 1-0 last time out. Erik Ten Hag too can be pleased with his work at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have already won the Carabao Cup, are in the final of the FA Cup and have a reasonably firm grip on a top four place.   

But the pre-match Brighton vs Manchester United betting odds reckon the Seagulls are odds on to take their revenge, and keep their European charge on track.   

Talking Points

Seagulls’ form is better than results

As well as going out of the FA Cup, De Zerbi’s side has followed a pattern of ‘win one, lose one’ over the past five league games so they will be keen to break that sequence against these visitors. They have more games in hand on the likes of Spurs and Liverpool and could climb to fifth with a good run. Brighton have come out on the wrong side of three of their last six fixtures but the only poor performance came in a 3-1 reversal to struggling Nottingham Forest. As well as dominating Manchester United in the FA Cup the Seagulls outplayed Spurs but came out on the end of a 2-1 defeat as VAR made four baffling decisions against De Zerbi’s side, each handing a goal swing to Spurs. Had the decisions gone Brighton’s way they would have won 5-2, but all they got was a third letter of apology of the season.

They have won five of their seven Premier League home games in 2023 and Brighton simply ripped the Wolves to pieces. The only disappointment on the day was an injury to Joel Veltman; and that means Gross may revert to right back. Meanwhile, Karou Mitoma and Alexis MacAllister both started on the bench against Wolves but should be in line for a return.

United almost there

Fifth placed Liverpool are just about still in the hunt for a top four place and they could climb to within four points of Manchester United if results go their way in midweek. But Ten Hag will focus his players on what they need to do; and the Red Devils coped with the pressure to beat Aston Villa on Saturday to keep hold of their comfortable cushion. Bruno Fernandes poked home the winner after Emi Martinez could only parry Marcus Rashford’s shot and the Red Devils successfully kept Villa at bay in the second half; which is more than they did in the previous match when they surrendered a two goal lead away to Tottenham Hotspur.

After being dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla, United need to qualify for the Champions League through their domestic league and they are almost there. They just need to avoid a capitulation; but they will find it tough against Brighton without first choice centre backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, with Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw set to deputise.  

History

The Red Devils have had much the better of the head to head Brighton vs Manchester United results since the Seagulls flew into the Premier League, winning ten to four and there is yet to be a draw.

But Brighton won the return fixture, on the opening day of the campaign, as Pascal Gross scored a brace to give the Seagulls a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. And last season Brighton battered United 4-0 at the Amex Stadium.  

In terms of recent form both sides have won three of the last six, Brighton losing the other three while Manchester United have lost one and drawn the other two.

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.98 to win, the hosts are clear favourites with the Red Devils out at 2.92 and the draw at 3.59; and I think the Seagulls will get their revenge.

I expect a high scoring game, and over 3.00 goals is at 1.91, with 3-1 to Brighton at a price of 12.52.

 

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