Manchester United welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Old Trafford late Sunday afternoon in the third round of the FA Cup in an all-Premier League tie.
Darren Fletcher failed to make a winning start to his reign as interim head coach of Manchester United on Wednesday night, as his side somehow only managed a 2-2 draw away at relegation-threatened Burnley.
That result at Turf Moor now means the Red Devils have won just one of their last six and three of their past 12 Premier League fixtures, seeing them fall down a place to seventh position, just two points behind reigning champions Liverpool in fourth, albeit playing a game more.
Brighton were in action on the other side of Manchester on Wednesday night, and drew 1-1 with Pep Guardiola’s faltering side in a game that somehow only produced two goals.
As impressive as that point was, Fabian Hurzeler’s men have now won just one of their previous eight Premier League fixtures (W1-D4-L3), leaving them in 11th position, three points behind their hosts.
How the bookies view it: United favourites
Despite hardly arriving in this clash in great form, Manchester United are favourites to advance in this tie, with the win priced at 17/20 at bet365, whilst they are an even more unconvincing 4/9 to qualify.
Bet365 have Brighton as 27/10 underdogs to win in regulation time, and 13/8 to qualify, which may tempt a few punters.
Head to head: Brighton a bogey team for Red Devils
Brighton have become a bit of a bogey team for Manchester United in recent seasons, with the Seagulls winning six of their previous nine meetings with the Red Devils.
However, Manchester United won the last meeting between the pair in the Premier League at Old Trafford 4-2 at the end of October.
Players to watch: Sesko to strike again?
Benjamin Sesko has endured a tough start to his Manchester United career following his summer switch from RB Leipzig, scoring just two goals across his opening 17 appearances for the Red Devils.
However, the Slovenian international bagged a well-taken brace at Burnley in midweek, and is an appealing 10/11 at bet365 to Score or Assist on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups:
Manchester United will be without the injured Matthijs de Ligt, as well as Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo, who are all still away at the Africa Cup of Nations
Brighton will be missing Adam Webster, Joel Veltman, Mats Wiefer, Solly March, Charalampos Kostoulas and Stefanos Tzimas due to injury, whilst Carlos Baleba is on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mount, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko
Brighton & Hove Albion: Steele, Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Ayari, Gross, Watson, Gruda, Mitoma, Welbeck
Anything else catch the eye?
This has all the makings for an entertaining cup tie late Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford, and I’m expecting a high-scoring encounter.
These two clubs shared six goals at Old Trafford earlier on in the season in the Premier League, meaning Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals has landed in each of the last three meetings.
What’s more, Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals has paid out in each of the last four and seven of the past eight clashes between the two at Old Trafford, and a repeat pays an appealing 5/6 at bet365.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
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