Manchester United travels to Brighton & Hove Albion for the very first game of Premier League matchday three weekend. Both clubs beat Championship level sides in midweek League Cup action, but this match will obviously be much greater in significance.
United were an embarassment in their season opening loss to Crystal Palace, and the idea of losing the first two right off the top, given the opponents, seems ludicrously unacceptable.
Manchester United at Brighton & Hove Albion FYIs
Kickoff: 7:30 am ET Saturday Sept 26, TV Channel: NBCSN,
MUFC Starting XI Prediction: go here
Odds: Brighton +375 to win, draw +260. Manchester United to win -130
Turning to the team news, we’ll start with the Seagulls, who will not have Yves Bissouma, for the next three matches. His accidental, but brutal studs-up kick into the face of opposing defender Jamal Lewis, during last weekend’s win at Newcastle, got him sent off.
Elsewhere, the long-term recovery of Jose Izquierdo is reaching conclusion, but he is still about two weeks away from being fully up to speed. Christian Walton and Florin Andone join him on the sidelines. Dale Stephens won’t be available for selection as he is finalizing a transfer to Burnley.
On the Manchester United side, they are still trying to work some of their first team players who were out on international duty into the team.
It’s been a real challenge given the abbreviated preseason, but there are only three confirmed absentees. Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are injured while Chris Smalling will be left out as the club tries to work with AS Roma to FINALLY bring closure on his future.
It’s a beyond tedious transfer saga that is long overdue for resolution.
Prediction: United 2, Brighton 1
The Red Devils have all sorts of problems, mostly in the front office where they’re not supporting their manager at all in the transfer market, but I just don’t see them losing back-to-back to begin the term.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank, partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.