Brighton will look to confirm European qualification for next season as they welcome third-placed Manchester United to the AMEX on Sunday afternoon.
Brighton missed the chance to seal their qualification for next season’s Europa League last weekend as they suffered a late 1-0 defeat at Elland Road against Leeds United.
Whilst that’s back-to-back defeats on the road for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, they have won each of their last three at home against Liverpool and Chelsea, and most recently against rock-bottom Wolves.
The Seagulls come into the final matchday in the seventh position, but only three points separate them from Sunderland in 10th.
Manchester United’s good run of form continued last weekend as they edged a controversial five-goal clash at home to Nottingham Forest.
Michael Carrick’s men have now taken 13 points from the last 15 available (W4-D1-L0), but they have won just three of their last 10 trips away from Old Trafford (W3-D5-L2), playing out a goalless draw at Sunderland in their previous away match.
How the bookies view it: Brighton favourites
Brighton come into this clash as favourites to record a fourth consecutive win at home, with bet365 pricing a home success at 10/11.
The Red Devils are 5/2 to claim their fifth win from their last six Premier League matches, whilst the draw is 3/1.
Head to head: Recent advantage for the Seagulls
This is a fixture that Brighton have tended to come out on top in recent seasons, with the Seagulls winning seven of the last 10 meetings in all competitions, including knocking the Red Devils out of the third round of the FA Cup in their most recent clash at the turn of the year.
However, Manchester United did win the reverse fixture 4-2 back in October, and will aim to do the double over Brighton for the first time since the 2020/21 season.
Players to watch: Bruno to bag another assist?
Bruno Fernandes equalled Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of 20 assists in a Premier League season last weekend, as he set up what proved to be their winning goal against Nottingham Forest.
The United skipper also has eight goals to his name in the Premier League this campaign, and the 1/1 on offer at PaddyPower for the Portuguese international to Score or Assist at the AMEX on Sunday appeals to me.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Brighton will be missing Adam Webster, Kaoru Mitoma and Stefanos Tzimas due to injury, but Mats Wieffer is available.
Manchester United will still be without defender Matthijs de Ligt through injury, as well as the departing Casemiro, whilst Benjamin Sesko is a major doubt.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Gross, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper, Minteh, Welbeck
Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Ugarte, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbuemo
Anything else catch the eye?
Manchester United have been the Both Teams to Score kings in the Premier League this season, with a league-high 27 (73%) of them producing goals at both ends, including 14/18 (78%) of their away clashes.
Over 2.5 Goals has also landed in eight of their past 10 Premier League outings, and combining them both pays 3/4 at Coral/Ladbrokes.
What’s more, Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals has also been a winning selection in each of the pair’s last four meetings, which only adds to the appeal.
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