Manchester United vs Brighton LIVE!
Manchester United take on Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon in the second game of Darren Fletcher’s interim spell at the helm. United remain managerless after the sacking of Ruben Amorim on Monday, and former midfielder Fletcher took charge of the side against Burnley on Wednesday, leading them to a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor. He takes his seat in the dugout at Old Trafford for the first time today, as the Red Devils prepare to embark on their only remaining hope of silverware this term.
They face a Brighton team that has been a real thorn in their side in recent years, emerging victorious at Old Trafford three times in the last three and a half years. Fabian Hurzeler’s men arrive back in the north-west with plenty of confidence, having held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in midweek. Kaoru Mitoma was on target to snatch a point for the Sussex outfit there.
Now, United, who are in talks with both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick over a caretaker position to see the club through until the end of the season, turn their attentions back to cup football, looking to return to winning ways after three straight draws. Follow all the action with our live blog below.
Manchester United vs Brighton latest news
- GOAL! Sesko halves deficit
- GOAL! Welbeck smashes home second
- WHAT A CHANCE! Welbeck fails to punish Lammens error
- GOAL! Gruda fires visitors ahead
- GOOD SAVE! Steele stops Fernandes
'An acceptance of where United are'
18:37 , Oli Gent“They had a lot of possession, United, but they didn't do enough with it,” Ally McCoist says on TNT Sports commentary.
“The second goal knocked the stuffing out of them. There's no real belief in this team.
“The crowd got going for the Sesko goal but at the whistle you can hear a pin drop. There's an acceptance, now, of where United are and what's happening.”
FT: Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:23 , Oli GentThat’s it, and United are out! Fletcher loses his second game in interim charge, and the inquest begins.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE FA Cup action.
Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:22 , Oli Gent90+4 mins: United bodies are queuing up in the middle, but they’re not swinging any crosses in!
Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:19 , Oli Gent90+2 mins: Tom Watson is on for Gruda.
Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:19 , Oli Gent90 mins: Five added minutes.
Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:18 , Oli Gent89 mins: Red card! Lacey is off, and has been shown a second yellow for dissent! He was booked for an earlier foul, and then throws the ball in anger when a throw doesn’t go his way. He’s distraught, and that might be that.
Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:16 , Oli Gent88 mins: Free kick, Brighton. A needless foul from Cunha on Kostoulas. United need to get it up the other end...
Goal! Man Utd 1-2 Brighton
18:13 , Oli Gent85 mins: Game on, United halve the deficit. The Fernandes corner is nodded home by Sesko!
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
18:09 , Oli Gent82 mins: Hurzeler is booked for leaving his technical area.
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
18:08 , Oli Gent81 mins: Casemiro links up with Lacey, and the youngster runs onto it, looking to curl it into the far corner with his left foot... but it just dips over!
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
18:06 , Oli Gent80 mins: Casemiro replaces Ugarte, and Martinez is off, with Maguire coming on.
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
18:05 , Oli Gent77 mins: Three changes for Brighton. Veltman is off for Ayari, Mitoma comes on for Welbeck, and van Hecke comes on for Gomez.
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
18:03 , Oli Gent75 mins: The home support have turned up the volume as they look to suck the ball into the Brighton net. It’s down to the players on the pitch now...
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
18:00 , Oli Gent72 mins: Fletcher is looking nervous as time ticks away from his side. Can they muster any kind of response in the dying embers?
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
17:57 , Oli Gent69 mins: Close! Lacey is positive down the right, with a stepover to get a yard and he whips one into Sesko. The Slovenian makes contact, but can only nod wide.
Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
17:55 , Oli Gent67 mins: You can feel and hear the unrest in the home support. United look nowhere near scoring here.
Goal! Man Utd 0-2 Brighton
17:53 , Oli Gent64 mins: It’s two, and it’s Danny Welbeck! He crashes a second into the top corner against his former side as Gruda receives the ball into feet in acres of space, and makes the run off Martinez’s shoulder, shifts it onto his left, and smashes home.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:50 , Oli Gent62 mins: Two changes or United. Joshua Zirkzee and Shea Lacey are coming on, with Mainoo and Mount making way.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:47 , Oli Gent60 mins: An hour on the clock and United are still no closer to an equaliser. How does Fletcher change this?
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:44 , Oli Gent56 mins: More nice build-up from Brighton as it’s worked wide right to their goalscorer and danger man Gruda. He feigns a shot and cuts inside, looking to feed Veltman on the overlap, but the Dutchman is offside.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:41 , Oli Gent53 mins Free kick, Brighton. Dorgu is penalised for a trip on Gruda.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:39 , Oli Gent51 mins: What a touch from Gruda, and he’s got Kadioglu outside him for support as Brighton stream forwards, but they slow the move down with the United defence at sixes and sevens.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:36 , Oli Gent49 mins: A fast start from the hosts after the interval. Can they find that elusive final ball?
Kick off!
17:33 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:17 , Oli GentThere’s the interval, and the Seagulls go in ahead. Work for United to do.
What will the second half have in store?
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:16 , Oli Gent45+1 min: One added minute, as Cunha darts inside onto his right, and he strikes, but Steele is equal to it.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:15 , Oli Gent44 mins: Melee! Better from United with more intent to get it into the box. Dorgu digs out a cross and finds Martinez ghosting in at the back stick to knock it down, but it won’t fall for Sesko as Boscagli hacks clear.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:12 , Oli Gent42 mins: He goes for the daisy-cutter, but it’s wide of the target.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:12 , Oli Gent41 mins: Free kick, United. Fernandes stands over this from 25 yards. What can he do here?
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:09 , Oli Gent39 mins: We’re approaching half time but since those two early Steele saves, United have hardly threatened. The crowd are getting frustrated...
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:06 , Oli Gent36 mins: A ball is clipped over the top for Sesko to chase in behind, but Steele is off his line quickly to avert the danger and nod to safety.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:03 , Oli Gent33 mins: Fletcher is pacing the front of his technical area looking to offer quiet words of encouragement to his players. Can he mastermind a comeback?
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
17:01 , Oli Gent31 mins: United are throwing men forward and looking to press the visitors high. It does leave them vulnerable to balls over the top...
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
16:58 , Oli Gent28 mins: Good block! United are knocking on the door as Boscagli comes to the Seagulls’ rescue once more. Martinez is up there supporting the attacking move and gets his shot away, but Boscagli puts his body on the line brilliantly.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
16:56 , Oli Gent25 mins: Good defending from Boscagli as Cunha breaks down the right and looks to send one into the area towards Sesko. The Frenchman sniffs out the danger and clears behind. Nothing comes from the resulting corner.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
16:53 , Oli Gent22 mins: Joel Veltman goes for the effort from range as it breaks out to him on the edge of the area, but he screws it wide.
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
16:49 , Oli Gent19 mins: Brighton are looking comfortable in possession as the Old Trafford crowd is getting restless. Can the hosts turn this round?
Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
16:45 , Oli Gent15 mins: What a chance! Lammens makes a howler as he gives the ball straight to Welbeck as he looks to play out. The striker tries to shoot immediately as the Belgian scrambles back to save, and Rutter puts the rebound over the top! A real let-off.
Goal! Man Utd 0-1 Brighton
16:43 , Oli Gent12 mins: And they’re ahead! Welbeck does really well to combine with Kadioglu down the left. He chases it into the channel, clipping it up to Rutter to nod goalwards. Lammens saves, and Gruda lashes in the rebound.
Man Utd 0-0 Brighton
16:42 , Oli Gent11 mins: Brighton have settled into this contest well after a high-octane start by the hosts. Some more sustained pressure from the visitors now.
Man Utd 0-0 Brighton
16:37 , Oli Gent7 mins: Good save! Fernandes taps it to Mainoo who sets, and the United skipper is denied by Steele as he looks to place it into the far corner.
Man Utd 0-0 Brighton
16:36 , Oli Gent6 mins: Free kick, United. Dorgu looks to jink past Hinshelwood, who brings down the Dane.
Man Utd 0-0 Brighton
16:33 , Oli Gent4 mins: Great save! United slice Brighton open with a laser-like through pass from Cunha into Diogo Dalot, who escapes the offside trap and is through on goal, but he fires straight at Steele.
Man Utd 0-0 Brighton
16:32 , Oli Gent3 mins: Some early tactical observations for you. Mount is on the right for United, with Cunha on the left. Dorgu is at left-back. Gomez is on the left flank for Brighton, with Gruda wide right.
Kick off!
16:30 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minutes to kick off
16:24 , Oli GentThe players are on their way out and the atmosphere is building at Old Trafford.
10 minute warning
16:20 , Oli GentWe’re approaching kick off here. Who will come out on top?
When is the FA Cup fourth round draw
16:18 , Oli GentWhen is the FA Cup fourth round draw? When will Arsenal and Chelsea find out their next opponents?
Arsenal romp into fourth round
16:10 , Oli GentArsenal dispatched Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton Park to move into the FA Cup fourth round.
Fletcher on identity
16:00 , Oli GentMan United's interim manager Darren Fletcher talking about what kind of football he likes to see from his side 🧠 pic.twitter.com/05tzZgG9qL
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 11, 2026
Brighton team breakdown
15:50 , Oli GentThere are changes afoot for Fabian Hurzeler, too, as he chops up his defensive unit.
Jason Steele comes in between the sticks, while Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli will be the central defenders in place of Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Joel Veltman and Ferdi Kadioglu are the full-backs, who will likely hold the width while the wide men - Diego Gomez and Brajan Gruda - are two players that prefer operating centrally. They will look to invert at every opportunity, highlighting the importance of the Seagulls’ full-backs to bomb on.
Pascal Gross adds steel and experience to the engine room alongside the youthful Jack Hinshelwood, while Danny Welbeck, the former United striker, leads the line.
Let's analyse these teams, shall we?
15:45 , Oli GentSo it is a 4-2-3-1 from Fletcher once more, and he plays it safe by making minimal changes to the side that drew at Burnley.
There’s no chance for Altay Bayindir to impress ahead of Senne Lammens in goal, but there are two changes in defence.
Ayden Heaven is benched, with Leny Yoro coming into the side to partner Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw misses out completely, with Patrick Dorgu shifted to left-back.
In midfield, the big story is that Kobbie Mainoo starts for United having been frozen out by Ruben Amorim. He partners Manuel Ugarte, and the England international will be given licence to roam and break lines while the Uruguayan sits.
Ahead of them, Matheus Cunha lines up alongside Bruno Fernandes AND Mason Mount, so it remains to be seen who lines up where in that attacking midfield trident. You would assume that Cunha will be off the right like he was at Burnley, with Mount wide left and Fernandes in the No10 position.
Benjamin Sesko will want to keep the momentum going after his two goals at Turf Moor in midweek.
Brighton lineup
15:33 , Oli GentBrighton XI: Steele; Veltman, Coppola, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Gross; Gomez, Rutter, Gruda; Welbeck
Subs: Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Watson, Kostoulas, Mitoma, Ayari, Tasker, Howell
Man Utd lineup
15:31 , Oli GentMan Utd XI: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Dorgu; Ugarte, Mainoo; Mount, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Subs: Bayindir, Heaven, Maguire, Malacia, Casemiro, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Lacey, Zirkzee
Also today!
15:20 , Oli GentArsenal travel to Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round.
Can the Championship side stun the Premier League leaders?
Team news shortly...
15:06 , Oli GentWill Fletcher shake things up after the Burnley disappointment?
Match odds
15:00 , Oli GentMan Utd to go through: 4/9
Brighton to go through: 17/10
Odds via Betfair.
Head to head
14:50 , Oli GentMan Utd wins: 22
Brighton wins: 9
Draws: 5
Standard Sport prediction
14:41 , Oli GentThe Seagulls have been a thorn in the side of United in recent years, taking victories at Old Trafford in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
They are a tricky opponent at the best of times, and Hurzeler sets his sides up to really rustle their opposition’s feathers.
They have all the tools to hurt United, whose defence still doesn’t look quite right, but how will the Red Devils fare back on home soil with the bounce of an ex-player in the dugout?
Man Utd to win, 2-1.
Brighton team news
14:30 , Oli GentBrighton, meanwhile, are hoping that Yankuba Minteh will recover in time from a knock to make this game.
Carlos Baleba is away at AFCON, while striker Stefanos Tzimas is out long-term with an ACL injury.
Charalampos Kostoulas, Joel Veltman, Mats Wieffer, Solly March and Adam Webster are the others that are sidelined.
Man Utd team news
14:20 , Oli GentUnited are without Matthijs de Ligt through injury, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo both are still involved at AFCON.
Otherwise, Fletcher has a full squad to pick from after Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount both returned from injury at Turf Moor.
Harry Maguire was an unused substitute as well, and he could make his own comeback here.
How to watch
14:11 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 4pm GMT.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Hello and welcome!
14:04 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Manchester United’s FA Cup tie with Brighton.
Another game, another day without a new manager for the Red Devils.
Can they turn up today and snap a three-game winless run?
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 4.30pm GMT.
