Manchester United are gearing up to face Brighton in their second Premier League match of the season. Brighton is coming off a dominant 3-0 win over Everton in their last game, while United secured a narrow victory over Fulham thanks to Joshua Zirkzee’s clever finish.
Zirkzee, who came off the bench in the Fulham game, is hoping to earn a spot in the starting XI this weekend. He had an extended summer break after participating in Euro 2024, and although he is still working his way towards full fitness, he made a significant impact in his limited playing time.
United, however, will be without several key players due to injuries. Rasmus Hojlund and Tyrell Malacia remain sidelined, while Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, and Victor Lindelof have also joined the injury list. Additionally, there are talks of Jadon Sancho potentially missing out on the match as Juventus shows interest in signing him.
Alejandro Garnacho, who made appearances off the bench in the Community Shield and against Fulham, may not start against Brighton. His performance against Fulham was not up to par, which could see Amad Diallo retaining his place in the side.
With Shaw still sidelined, Diogo Dalot is expected to continue at left-back, while Noussair Mazraoui, who had an impressive debut, will likely start on the right. Harry Maguire’s withdrawal in the last game could open up an opportunity for Matthijs de Ligt to make his full debut for United.
The predicted starting XI for Manchester United against Brighton includes Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Rashford, and Zirkzee.
For fans wondering where to watch the match, it will kick off at 12:30pm on Saturday 24 August and will be available for live coverage on TNT Sports 1 and the Discovery+ app.
In conclusion, Manchester United is facing Brighton in their second Premier League match, with Zirkzee hoping to make his mark in the starting XI. The team will be without several injured players, and there are talks of Sancho potentially missing the match due to transfer negotiations. De Ligt could make his full debut, and fans can catch the action on TNT Sports 1 and the Discovery+ app.