Brighton: now and then
Tonight's match is almost a year to the day since Brighton battered United 4-0 at the Amex Stadium, where the away-dayers chanted 'you're not fit to wear the shirt'.
Somehow, United have plumbed to new fathoms this season (Brentford and Liverpool) yet it has been a progressive one, overall, as it has been for Brighton.
Brighton are the toughest team United have to face in their run-in. Roberto de Zerbi benched Kaoru Mitoma, Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo at the weekend and Brighton slaughtered Wolves 6-0. They are likely to be stronger tonight.
Read more: United get injury boost
Wan-Bissaka vs Mitoma part two?
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's removal from the line-up against Aston Villa was possibly with an eye on Brighton. Few full-backs have shackled Mitoma as authoritatively as Wan-Bissaka did in the FA Cup semi-final, a performance that compelled James Maddison to tweet his appreciation.
Wan-Bissaka is the more suitable right-back to pit against Mitoma and Erik ten Hag may have to decide to go with a more balanced back four of two right-footers and two left-footers or relocate Diogo Dalot to left-back again.
Talent-spotting
Caicedo and Mac Allister would enhance United next season amid Ten Hag's eagerness to recruit a younger midfielder. Mac Allister, 24, started in Brighton's last two wins against United but the more impressive midfielder has been Caicedo, deservedly the man of the match at Wembley last month.
Whatever the mitigation of greater expectations and pressure, United dropped the ball in dropping their pursuit of Caicedo in January 2021. He is already an £80million midfielder and only made his Premier League debut in April 2022.
Caicedo has bossed United midfields comprising Scott McTominay and Fred and Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. He would be the ideal heir to the 31-year-old Casemiro.
Travel sickness
United's away record against the top 12 teams is dire: played 10, won one, drawn three and lost six. The last - the collapse at Tottenham - ought to have felt like a loss. United's only win at Fulham was clinched in added time.
Overall, they have taken six points from a possible 30 away from Old Trafford against the top 12 and Brighton are their final opponents of the dozen. Brighton has been the scene of a few horror shows for United and it is telling their only wins there came behind closed doors.
A difference in clubs
At the remote Amex in Falmer, the train station is a goal kick away, the atmosphere is authentic despite the new-build stadium and there is a connection between matchgoers and club.
Brighton buy well, sell well, play fabulous football and are becoming more competitive with every managerial appointment. United have uncaring owners who have neglected the stadium whilst presiding over a decade's worth of almost total failure and antagonising supporters. Ten Hag has massively improved the situation but some would say is papering over cracks.
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