Manchester United returned to winning ways with a 4-1 home win over Newcastle United last weekend. They have a good chance of another three points as they host Brighton and Hove Albion. United are second in the Premier League table but eight points behind their neighbours Manchester City.
Looking at the goal difference it’s nearly as good as nine but they still have to play City twice so perhaps the title race isn’t quite as over as a lot of people believe it is. For United and the other title challengers, they are in the position where they can’t afford any slip-ups.
Jose Mourinho’s team has turned Old Trafford into a fortress again. They last lost at home in September 2016 when being beaten by Manchester City. No side outside of the city of Manchester has won at Old Trafford since January 2016 when Southampton won there and now United face another South coast challenge.
The goal United conceded at home to Newcastle last weekend was the first Premier League goal scored against them this season. Getting one goal against them is hard enough with only three conceded in the last 11 United home games. Scoring twice is even harder with that only happening once in the last 36 home league games. With Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in the squad and Romelu Lukaku scoring again, this could be a long afternoon for Brighton.
The south coast side were held to a 2-2 home draw by Stoke City on Monday and start the weekend in ninth place on 16 points. Twelve league games have produced four wins, four draws and four defeats but are a healthy seven points above the relegation zone that the majority of fans believe they will eventually fill.
They come to Old Trafford unbeaten in their last five league games but three of those have been drawn. The fixture list has been a bit kind to them and only two of their 12 games have been against sides currently in the top seven and both of those were lost. 26 games to go and 12 will be against sides currently in the top seven starting this weekend. Three of their away league games have had under 2.5 goals scored and six matches on the road have only seen 11 goals scored.
Brighton have won their last two away league games without conceding but facing Manchester United at Old Trafford is a bit different from winning at West Ham and Swansea City who both start the weekend in the bottom three.
Conclusion
This is the kind of game that Manchester United would have drawn last season. Too many times they remained unbeaten at Old Trafford but just couldn’t get the vital home win they needed to get in title contention. It’s a different tale this season with six wins out of six and this is a golden chance to make it seven out of seven.
They have key players back from injury and with three out of the last four Premier League teams to visit Old Trafford conceding four goals, this looks like being a tough match for the visitors. If Stoke can put two goals past them, what United might do is a bit frightening. Brighton will give it everything they have got but this looks like a game that will end in a United victory and a -1-handicap bet should be a winner.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Manchester United – WLWLD
Brighton and Hove Albion – DWDWD
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
19/03/1983 – Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
06/11/1982 – Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Manchester United 0
24/04/1982 – Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Manchester United 1
28/11/1981 – Manchester United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
10/01/1981 – Manchester United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
- In 16 games between these two sides, Brighton have only won once.
- Brighton have never won at Old Trafford.
- The last five games between these two sides have all been in cup competitions with United winning three and two being drawn.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 23 home league games.
- Manchester United have won their last seven home league games.
- Brighton have won their last two away games without conceding
- Three of the Brighton away league games have had under 2.5 goals scored in them.
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