The Erik ten Hag era will officially get underway when the Red Devils host Brighton at Old Trafford on a Sunday afternoon meeting. Despite the club’s lacklustre 21/22 campaign, Manchester United’s impressive preseason form was a promising sign for the fans. However, top football betting tips experts will be wary of the fact that Brighton had cruised to a 4-0 victory the last time these two teams had met. Can the Seagulls be the cause of misery for Manchester United once again?
Manchester United
The return of Cristiano Ronaldo on the back of a runner-up finish in the Premier League made Manchester United one of the Premier League title contenders last season. But, the reality was far different from expectations as the Mancunians had to rely on West Ham losing their Survival Sunday match to ensure Europa League qualification.
Former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag was one of the most sought-after managers in the world before Manchester United tied him down to a three-year contract, which could be extended a year further. The Dutchman has signed one of his former players Lisandro Martinez, beating strong interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal. Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen have joined the club as well to be a part of ten Hag’s rebuild.
With uncertainties over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, there is no assurance that the Portuguese superstar will be involved in the Brighton match. Anthony Martial might get the chance to lead the line as a reward for his strong preseason performance. The home side has no significant injury worries before their first match.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Graham Potter’s name was tossed around as one of the potential successors of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the permanent Manchester United manager. That rumour came to an end after Man United announced the appointment of Ten Hag. But, Potter still remains highly admired in the football community for the style of play he implemented at Brighton.
A strong run of form towards the end of last season catapulted Brighton in the top half of the table. Their late season surge included a 4-0 demolition of Manchester United at the Amex Stadium. They ended the season on ninth place; a significant jump for a team that did not finish above since returning to the top flight five years ago.
Brighton will not have their midfield metronome Yves Bissouma this season as he moved to North London giants Tottenham Hotspur. Filling his absence in the team will be one of the biggest challenges Potter will face this season. Brighton are also likely to lose Marc Cucurella in the next few days, as Chelsea is moving closer to securing a deal.
Our Prediction
Despite losing some of their key players, Brighton can still be a tough nut to crack for Manchester United. The Red Devils started their preseason in emphatic style as they blew away arch-rivals Liverpool in a 4-0 thrashing. But their performances started to wane as they failed to win any of their last three games. Brighton will be confident ahead of the game because of their recent 5-1 thumping of Espanyol. Earlier, they had beaten Rangers away from home. So, a draw seems to be on the cards.
Our Tip
Draw @ 4.20
