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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst & Richard Fay & Tyrone Marshall

How Manchester United should line up vs Brighton in Premier League fixture

Manchester United will be looking to make a winning return when they host Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday night.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side lost to Leicester in the FA Cup before the international break and will be keen to secure three points as they enter the business end of the season.

United have won each of their last five meetings with Brighton in all competitions, while the Seagulls have never won away at Old Trafford in 12 previous visits (D2 L10), losing each of their last six away games there.

In terms of early team news Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof are both doubts having missed training on Friday morning.

Here is how our writers think United should line up...

Samuel Luckhurst

If Lindelof cannot make it then Solskjaer should give Axel Tuanzebe a start. Tuanzebe is fresh, did no travelling over the international fortnight and something seems to be afoot with Eric Bailly, who missed United's last two games but rocked up in both of the Ivory Coast's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

United can start their best front six, even if it means including someone who has no interest in playing for them next season, and has had little interest of playing for them lately.

Edinson Cavani should be flanked by Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, and Paul Pogba-Scott McTominay is United's best midfield axis. Fred needs to be taken out of the firing line.

You can pick your United side vs Brighton using the selector below.

Rich Fay

With late fitness tests for Martial and Lindelof there is no point taking any risks going into the business stage of the season.

De Gea is the best option in goal, while Bailly makes sense as a partner for Maguire in the centre of defence. The two full-backs pick themselves.

Fred was woeful vs Leicester last time out while Pogba played well in the international break - that should make the midfield selection a no-brainer.

James was excellent for Wales in midweek and is a logical selection on the right, while Cavani is still the only viable No.9 option, particularly against physical defensive opposition.

Tyrone Marshall

Henderson has done enough to keep his place in goal and it will be a bitter blow to his hopes of making the grade at United if he is dropped. In front of him the defence generally picks itself, but if Lindelof isn't fit then Bailly should come in. His future is uncertain but either way he needs to play, to prove he is worth a new contract or generate a market for his signature in the summer.

After playing 180 minutes across three games for France Pogba has to start in a deeper role. Fred was poor at Leicester but he often works well with Pogba and having not been away on international duty he should have benefited from the rest.

In the front three there might be a risk to starting both Rashford and Greenwood after their injuries. James scored for Wales in the international break and is clearly confident at the moment. He can play on the right, with Rashford left and Cavani leading the line.

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