Manchester United’s late 1-0 win over Fulham in last Friday’s season opener showed concerning similarities with last year’s travails. Better were the crisp phases of passing and intelligent movement during the first half, but then came a falling away of shape, of dismal finishing – Bruno Fernandes being a chief culprit – and the reliance, again, on a moment rather than in-game domination to claim victory: the substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s deft 87th-minute strike finally beating Bernd Leno.
For the young Dutchman a dream start after his £35.8m transfer from Bologna. For his compatriot Erik ten Hag, the contemplation of more unwanted forward line profligacy, summed up by a pithy post-match demand that his charges “kill in the box”, and the hope that at Brighton in Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off the team will finally click and show they can be a formidable unit this campaign. The trip to the south coast is a test. Fabian Hürzeler’s men are coming off the 3-0 hammering of Everton at Goodison Park – the very best of beginnings for the Seagulls under a new manager who does not turn 32 until February.
Ineos’s first summer market at United has yielded Zirkzee, two centre-backs in Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro plus a full-back in Noussair Mazraoui. Starting in the right-hand defensive berth on debut Mazraoui appeared accomplished, though he needs to eradicate the odd loose pass to the opposition that could be costly on other days.
As an 81st-minute substitute against Fulham, De Ligt had constricted time to show anything revelatory about his worth so Saturday’s teamsheet will be intriguing in regards to discovering if Ten Hag has found the 25-year-old a place in his starting XI, which would almost definitely mean dropping Harry Maguire, who after the win against Fulham insisted he feels fit. “Physically and mentally, I’m in a good place. I’m looking forward to a big season,” said the 31-year-old, who was an eye-catching package of aggression, leadership and decisive interventions on the opening night.
The suspicion remains that Maguire will be the fall guy for De Ligt, and if not at Brighton, then soon. But his value to Ten Hag has increased after Yoro was ruled out for three months. Maguire is one-paced and can be error-prone but his attitude is inarguable, as shown by his fight to again be a factor after being bombed out of the side by Ten Hag two seasons ago.
The wider picture for United’s manager at the Amex Stadium concerns a question of strategy. Persist with Fernandes as the false No 9, deploy Marcus Rashford there or draft in Zirkzee from the start? Last season Ten Hag’s six-man strike coterie of Rashford, Rasmus Højlund, Jadon Sancho, Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony returned only 26 goals from a paltry 57 managed by the entire squad in the Premier League. Højlund led with 10 in 30 appearances. Like Yoro, the Dane went down in pre-season and is out for about another month. Zirkzee was bought to support and compete with the Dane, which proved prudent after the latter’s injury.
If Ten Hag starts Rashford at No 9, can he prosper in a role he seems built for? Lightning fast, tall, and a killer finisher when the mood takes him, Rashford could be one of the era’s fine central forwards except his preference is to launch raids from the left.
The 26-year-old scored 30 from that role two seasons ago – Kylian Mbappé apart, no other winger on the continent can boast those numbers in recent years.
Sancho missed the win over Fulham because of an ear infection but Ten Hag, asked about his availability for Brighton, chose to deliver a sermon about rotation and attitude. Again, intrigue centres on the manager’s selection to face Brighton: will Sancho, exiled from the squad last season, even make the 20-man matchday squad?
The 24-year-old may still depart Old Trafford as he competes with Amad (who was impressive against Fulham), Garnacho, Rashford and Antony: the odd man out, perhaps, in a quintet vying for the two wide berths, with Ten Hag stating he wants “double positioning” throughout the team.
Where United lack depth is in central midfield. Kobbie Mainoo is nailed on to start as a box-to-box schemer but Casemiro at the age of 32 cannot, surely, last the slog of a domestic and Europa League campaign. Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte, a holding operator, is being pursued to fill this void. United are confident he will be recruited. If so, the tilt at a top-four finish – or better – will be bolstered, as Ten Hag also bids to add a third piece of silverware in a third season, after Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs.
Maguire says: “Obviously we want to be in the Champions League spots. We missed out this season as we weren’t good enough in the league. This club demands trophies. So we want to win another trophy and in the Premier League we know there’s large improvements that we need to do and make from what we did last season. For sure, we’ve got to improve on last season and let’s see where it goes and takes us.”
Striker Ramus Hojlund also remains unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury.
However, Ten Hag's defensive options were bolstered by the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui just days before our 2024/25 Premier League campaign began against Fulham. Both players featured in a 1-0 win, secured thanks to a late winner from another debutant, Joshua Zirkzee.
It's all positive for the Seagulls, meanwhile, who beat Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park in their opening league fixture. Manager Fabian Hurzeler has revealed Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey and Evan Ferguson have all returned to training.
“We have to wait now to see how their rehabilitation continues and how they adapt to the intensity,” he said at a press conference. “Then we will see if they are an option for the squad but I am very happy that these three players are back.”
Furthermore, impressive new signing Yankuba Minteh has recovered from a head injury sustained on his competitive debut last weekend.
Brajan Gruda and Georginio Rutter, a big-money buy from Leeds United, may make their first appearances. “He has integrated fast into the group, which is the main thing,” commented Hurzeler.
Bart Verbruggen and Solly March are still sidelined, though.
Erik ten Hag’s men travel south to take on the league leaders hoping to claim another three points
Manchester United travel to Brighton for Saturday’s early Premier League kick off hoping to build on an encouraging victory over Fulham in their opening match of the season. Though the Red Devils only triumphed 1-0, they looked a composed and dominant side especially in possession of the ball.
New forward Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench and combined with fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho to slot home the only goal of the game and get himself off the mark in his very first outing for United. There were plenty of encouraging signs for boss Erik ten Hag though he will realise that his team were too open to the counter-attack and work needs to be done to shore up the defence.
For their part, Brighton have had an exceptional start to the new season. They travelled to Merseyside and faced Everton at Goodison Park. The Toffees, suffering from a few injuries, never turned up and goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra ensured the Seagulls got off to the best possible start and ended the first gameweek top of the table.
Follow all the action from today’s Premier League encounter below:
38 mins: Mason Mount curls a low pass into the box aiming for Marcus Rashford but Jan Paul van Hecke sticks out a leg and pokes it behind for a corner.
The set piece is nodded away by Billy Gilmour and Brighton’s lead remains in tact for now.
35 mins: Almost the perfect response from Man Utd. A counter attack sees them sweep forward on the right and whip the ball over to Marcus Rashford.
Jason Steele makes a good save initially but the ball comes back to the forward who manages to flick it over the goalkeeper.
The celebrations begin but the offside flag is raised and VAR confirms that Rashford had strayed too far ahead of the defenders.
32 mins: Danny Welbeck!
Brighton have the opening goal. A simple cross into the box by Joao Pedro is let go by Harry Maguire and gets picked up by Kaoru Mitoma.
Mitoma laces the ball back into the six-yard box and Welbeck is there to tip the ball past Andre Onana and send the hosts into the lead!
30 mins: Oh nice! Man Utd keep the ball alive after a corner and it drops to Diogo Dalot. He takes a touch then curls a shot towards the far top corner.
It’s a decent effort but whips just wide of the post.
27 mins: Before the match, the pundits and experts believed this game would be decided in the final 20 minutes with the impact of the substitutes potential deciding the game one way or the other.
So far, it feels as though things are shaping up that way. United have been solid defensively and have created two very good chances. Brighton seem comfortable enough but would like more penetrating possession.
24 mins: Joel Veltman handles the ball trying to shield it from Bruno Fernandes. Brighton give up a free kick that the United captain stands over.
Amad is with him and the youngster takes the set piece, swinging it into the middle of the penalty area. Casemiro is there first and powers his header over the top of the crossbar!
21 mins: Danny Welbeck collects the ball, holds it up then turns and releases Joao Pedro to the edge of the box. It’s a good opportunity for Brighton but before Pedro can shift the ball Kobbie Mainoo slides in from the left and pokes it away from him.
Great tackle.
18 mins: Minteh has been Brighton’s most direct player thus far. A run into the box comes to an end when Casemiro tracks back to dispossess him.
There’s been a couple of moments where Brighton have threatened to be dangerous but they haven’t converted them into clear cut chances yet.
15 mins: A slight break for Man Utd sees Amad drive the ball forward after he’s picked out by Mason Mount. Noussair Mazraoui strides forward with him and receives the ball.
He flays a low cross towards the box but can’t find a teammate and Brighton clear the danger.
12 mins: Close! Onana sprays the ball over to the left wing where Diogo Dalot has run high up the pitch. He flicks it on and chases after his own header.
A lovely cross from the left-back picks out Amad Diallo by the far post and his volley is drilled wide of the neares post!
