Will the Red Devils halt their downward slide on the south coast?
After losing their last four away games in the Premier League, record champions Manchester United are only sixth in the table with two league games to go. Not only is the Champions League utopia. The Europa League or Conference League are also far from being in the bag for the Red Devils.
In their penultimate competitive match of the 2021/22 season, Ralf Rangnick’s men visit the south coast of England, where Brighton have been waiting for another win for eight home games (four draws, four defeats). Consequently, in the run-up to the match between Brighton and Manchester United, the odds are swinging in the direction of the Red Devils.
However, the Seagulls are by no means out of form going into their home game. Brighton have won three of their last five league games and occupy a strong ninth place in the table. Even with a view to the Red Devils’ meagre away record, it is by no means out of the question that the supposed underdogs can annoy the English record champions.
Brighton – Statistics & current form
Brighton & Hove Albion were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in the summer of 2017. After four years in a relegation battle, the Seagulls are currently enjoying their best season by far. In ninth place in the table, the southerners are already twelve points clear of the relegation zone.
Consequently, plans for the coming season can already be underway in the background, in which Graham Potter’s side would like to establish themselves further in the top flight of English football.
The third worst home team in the Premier League
An important step to establishing yourself in the Premier League is also about being competitive with the top teams.
Accordingly, it would be important for the Seagulls to build on recent results, such as the away wins at Arsenal (2-1) and Tottenham (1-0), and extend the small series that has seen them win three of their last five league games (one draw, one defeat).
However, things have not gone too well for Albion at home at the Falmer Stadium. The Potter eleven could not win any of the last eight Premier League home games (four draws, four defeats). Brighton are third from bottom in the home table with just three wins from 17 games.
Last seven defeats in a row to Manchester United
Making matters worse is the Seagulls’ poor record against the English record champions. Albion have not won any of their last seven competitive matches against the Red Devils and have always conceded at least two goals in all of those seven encounters.
Despite the visitors’ slight dip in form, the southerners will be underdogs in their own stadium.
Predicted Brighton line-up:
Sánchez – Trossard – Cucurella – Dunk – Veltman – March – Caicedo – Bissouma – Mac Allister – Mwepu – Welbeck
Last matches played by Brighton:
Premier League
30/04/2022 – Wolverhampton 0 – 3 Brighton
24/04/2022 – Brighton 2 – 2 Southampton
21/04/2022 – Manchester City 3 – 0 Brighton
16/04/2022 – Tottenham 0 – 1 Brighton
09/04/2022 – Arsenal FC 1 – 2 Brighton
Manchester United – Statistics & current form
Manchester United may be the English record champions, but they haven’t won the Premier League since the summer of 2013, when the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge.
Since then, greats like Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho and most recently Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have tried to lead the club back to the top. Mostly, however, with only modest success. In four of the last eight seasons, United have failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Only three wins in the last ten league games
The 2022/23 season will again be without the Red Devils in the top flight, meaning interim coach Ralf Rangnick has also missed out prematurely. Although United were on a good course for quite a while under the German, they have been dropping points in a row lately.
The English record champions have won just three of their last ten Premier League games (three draws, four defeats), which means that even qualification for the Europa League or Conference League is still in jeopardy. Accordingly, the last two league games are important for the club.
Four away defeats in a row in the Premier League
The Red Devils’ poor away form has been particularly problematic of late. United have lost all of their last four Premier League away games in a row. That corresponds to the same number of defeats as in the 42 away games before.
It is correspondingly complicated to bet on a point win for Rangnick’s side at Brighton against Manchester United, especially as attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the very few constants in recent weeks. The Portuguese is already on 18 goals from 29 appearances and scored again on Monday night against Brentford.
Predicted Manchester United line-up:
De Gea – Telles – Varane – Lindelöf – Dalot – Matic – McTominay – Fernandes – Mata – Elanga – Ronaldo
Last matches played by Manchester United:
Premier League
03/05/2022 – Manchester United 3 – 0 Brentford
29/04/2022 – Manchester United 1 – 1 Chelsea FC
23/04/2022 – Arsenal FC 3 – 1 Manchester United
20/04/2022 – Liverpool FC 4 – 0 Manchester United
16/04/2022 – Manchester United 3 – 2 Norwich
Brighton – Manchester United Direct Comparison / H2H Record
Head to head: 3 – 5 – 19
There have been 27 competitive matches between the two teams so far and with 19 wins, the Red Devils lead the head-to-head comparison very clearly. Manchester United have recently won seven matches in a row and have always scored at least twice in all of them.
Brighton – Manchester tip
When it comes to Brighton against Manchester United, the prediction basically goes in the direction of the visitors, who are superior in terms of playing quality alone. However, the English record champions have rarely been able to show their potential on the pitch and have lost their last four Premier League away games in a row.
However, the Seagulls have been without another win in eight Premier League home games, which makes it extremely difficult to predict the outcome of the game. The best value, therefore, is to bet on a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, who has been one of the few constants in United’s play in recent weeks
