Manchester United vs Brighton – Match preview and team news

Manchester United will travel to Brighton & Hove Albion for a Carabao Cup third round match on Wednesday, seeking to bounce back from a controversial 1-0 loss to Manchester City. Brighton enters the game with confidence, currently fourth in the Premier League after a 5-0 thrashing of newly promoted Coventry City. The Seagulls have won seven of their last 11 matches against United across all competitions, with four of those victories at Old Trafford.

Brighton also eliminated United from last season's FA Cup. Manchester United, six-time champions of this competition, have not advanced past the second round since 2022-23, previously being knocked out by Grimsby Town last season at this stage. Carlos Baleba, United's summer signing from Brighton, is injured and will not play. United will be without Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo, Tom Heaton and Baleba, all recovering from injuries.

Luke Shaw is a doubt, with Patrick Dorgu or Noussair Mazraoui likely to replace him at left-back. Benjamin Sesko is set for his second start of the season, alongside Matheus Cunha up front. Brighton face a depleted lineup, with Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood, Zadok Yohanna, Mats Wieffer, Stefanos Tzimas and Evan Ferguson absent.

Jason Steele is set to start in goal, with Hurzeler managing his team's energy, though Pascal Gross is expected to continue in midfield. United's season has been lackluster, with only one win in their opening four Premier League matches and no clean sheets. Their recent derby defeat has raised questions about manager Carlos Carrick, who is already eight points behind the Premier League leaders.

Brighton, under Hurzeler, have had an impressive start, sitting fourth with 13 goals scored in four matches, including a joint-second biggest Premier League victory of 5-0 against Coventry City. Brighton's lineup includes Steele, Kadioglu, Dunk, Vuskovic, Boscagli, Gross, Ayari, Gomez, Yalcouye and De Cuyper.