Game Week 22 Predictions: United and Brighton to draw at Old Trafford?

Manchester United hosts Brighton in a crucial clash at Old Trafford. Can United continue their momentum? Full preview, player battles, and prediction!

Amad Traore and Joao Pedro would be the players to watch in this fixture, which of them will lead from the front? (Photo credit: Khel)

 Manchester United vs. Brighton.

Old Trafford

3:00 pm

Manchester United’s recovery continues in front of the Old Trafford crowd on Sunday with the visit of Brighton to the Old Trafford Stadium. United must build on recent results to sustain momentum.

The Red Devils left it late against Southampton in midweek, having to rely on the individual brilliance of Amad Traore, who bagged a late hat trick to save the blushes of United with the bottom club threatening to run away with the result.

Brighton is fast becoming a yoyo club, and Fabian Hurzelar must do something about it. Back-to-back wins in the FA Cup and away at Ipswich in midweek masked their recent challenges, but the Seagulls went eight games without a win with stalemates written all over their fixtures.

Brighton maintains a five-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League standings, demonstrating their strength. However, given the calibre of their squad, they regret the missed opportunities in games that could have elevated their ranking significantly.

Several players have shown inconsistent performances at Brighton. Injury to Danny Welbeck derailed their scoring potential, with Joao Pedro struggling to stay consistent in front of goal. American forward Georginio Rutter isn’t scoring freely as expected, and Evan Ferguson can’t find fitness to be available for selection.

United has now avoided defeats in three consecutive games, winning two of them and forcing Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield. They must find a way past Brighton, but they can’t afford to be as passive as they were for the best part of the game against the Saints.

Brighton will always give you chances to score against them, but they will create quite a lot upfront too, and you must be ready for them. Hurzelar has options on the wings, and United could struggle in the middle if they're as inactive as midweek.

Jack Hinshelwood is back in training and available for selection, but Ferguson, Brajan Gruda, and Mats Wieffer won’t be fit enough for the trip, and Igor Julio is out for the rest of the season, but Lewis Dunk is ready to start again for the Seagulls.

Amad has effectively taken Marcus Rashford's place at Manchester United. Antony entered the game in the second half against the Saints, but his contributions were minimal; United must maximise the potential of Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund needs to step up, as he is not performing up to his full potential.

Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro are the players to watch for the visitors, while Bruno Fernandes must impose himself on this game. Midfield battle will be key; expect Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari to have a say in that, but will Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte step up to them?

Verdict: Both teams to score