Latest EPL standings as well as fixtures and results are found below the predictions.
Manchester United return to the difficult business of closing down English Premier League title rivals Manchester City on Sunday as they take on Brighton at Old Trafford.
Second-placed United’s noisy neighbours are a whopping 14 points clear at the top of the EPL table as the games remaining tally heads into single figures.
But the Red Devils have prolonged the pursuit thanks to their shock win at the Etihad Stadium nearly a month ago, as well as retaining a game in hand to keep making a fist of it.
Victory at home to ex-boss David Moyes and his high-flying West Ham side a fortnight ago didn’t do any harm either, as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes at least a finish of second in the standings.
They will need to keep up their form, with Leicester and Chelsea pushing hard in third and fourth as the campaign reaches its business end.
Marcus Rashford pulled out of England duty and remains a doubt for the weekend, as does Mason Greenwood, although veteran forward Edinson Cavani should be fit to feature.
Anthony Martial is also expected to be available for the hosts, who are definitely without Juan Mata and Phil Jones thanks to injury.
Brighton are battling gamely against relegation and took a couple of excellent strides in their bid to beat the drop before the international break.
Graham Potter’s side secured back-to-back victories, first at south coast foes Southampton and then a thumping, 3-0 success against relegation rivals Newcastle at the Amex Stadium.
Those precious six points hoisted the Seagulls to 16th, half a dozen clear of Fulham on the wrong side of the dotted line.
Danny Welbeck could well line up against his boyhood club which would be a big boost for Potter given the possible absence of Aaron Connolly in attack.
Florin Andone and Solly March are both out, as is speedster Tariq Lamptey, with the Old Trafford trip likely to come just too soon for defender Adam Webster.
Manchester United vs Brighton: By the numbers
- Coming into this game, Manchester United has picked up 11 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That’s 2.2 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in just 1 of those games. Manchester United has scored 6 times in the last 5 fixtures.
- Manchester United has enjoyed playing at home recently, with the side currently unbeaten in 4 games.
- Brighton & Hove Albion’s defence will have to be at their best today if they’re to stop Manchester United from scoring. The home side has scored in the last 8 games in front of their own fans. They have failed to score in 3 home matches this season.
- Momentum is really building for Manchester United as they have now gone 9 games without losing. They have won 3 of the last 5 games they have played.
- Manchester United has kept 4 clean sheets in the last 5 games, conceding 1 goal during this period. Overall this season, their defence has kept a clean sheet on 12 occasions.
- Manchester United is unbeaten in the last 5 games coming into this fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, having won 3 and drawn 2. They have scored 6 goals in those 5 games.
- Things have not been going that well in front of goal for Manchester United recently, with the side failing to score in 2 of the last 5 games. Will the manager change his tactics today, or throw in another forward?
- Just 1 of the last 5 games for Manchester United has ended with both teams scoring. They have won 3 of those 5 games. Overall, BTTS has landed in 16/29 games for Manchester United this season.
- Coming into this game, Brighton & Hove Albion has picked up 6 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That’s 1.2 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in an intriguing 3 of those games. Brighton & Hove Albion have scored 7 times in the last 5 fixtures.
- Brighton & Hove Albion have put together a good run of form and has now gone 2 games without defeat.
- We might see some goals in this one, with the last 3 games involving Brighton & Hove Albion has ended with 3 or more goals being scored. Will Manchester United get in on the action today? There has been a total of 13 goals in the last 5 games for Brighton & Hove Albion, both home and away.
- In the last 5 matches for Brighton & Hove Albion, 3 of those games has ended with both teams scoring. This season 16 matches (55% of all matches) involving Brighton & Hove Albion has seen BTTS landing.
Stats source: footystats.org
Manchester United vs Brighton: Prediction
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
Manchester United vs Brighton: EPL starting XI prediction
Probable Manchester United Starting XI: David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Fred, Daniel James, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani.
Probable Brighton Starting XI: Robert Sanchez, Ben White, Lewis Dunk, Dan Burn, Pascal Gross, Yves Bissouma, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder, Leandro Trossard, Neal Maupay, Danny Welbeck.
Get all?English Premier League predictions, fixtures and result for 3-5 April?here.