Manchester United head into Saturday’s meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion aiming for a third consecutive win under Amorim after back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in his tenure. Brighton arrive unbeaten in five matches in all competitions and have already beaten Manchester City and Chelsea this season.

Recent form (selected results)
Liverpool 1–2 Man Utd – 19/10/25
Man Utd 2–0 Sunderland – 04/10/25
Brentford 3–1 Man Utd – 27/09/25
Man Utd 2–1 Chelsea – 20/09/25
Man City 3–0 Man Utd – 14/09/25

Brighton 2–1 Newcastle – 18/10/25
Wolves 1–1 Brighton – 05/10/25
Chelsea 1–3 Brighton – 27/09/25
Barnsley 0–6 Brighton – 23/09/25
Brighton 2–2 Tottenham – 20/09/25

Injury and selection update
United are relatively healthy with Lisandro Martínez the only confirmed absentee. Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are listed as minor doubts, though Amorim did not seem particularly concerned. United used a striker-less system to good effect on Merseyside, but Amorim could opt for a focal forward here. Benjamin Šeško has shown signs of growing more comfortable and could return to the starting XI, potentially in place of Mount. Leny Yoro may also be recalled, but substantial changes from what the coach called the most impressive victory of his reign seem unlikely.

Predicted Man Utd lineup (3-4-2-1): Lammens; De Ligt, Maguire, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Šeško.

Brighton arrive with more selection uncertainty. Hürzeler is not yet sure whether he’ll have Kaoru Mitoma because of an ankle problem, while Brajan Gruda and Joel Veltman are doubts. Diego Gómez is in contention. Jack Hinshelwood, Adam Webster and Solly March remain out long term. Danny Welbeck, fresh from a brace in the win over Newcastle United, will lead the line. Carlos Baleba, linked with a summer move to Old Trafford, is a player to watch.

Predicted Brighton lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Gómez; Welbeck.

Tactical note
Brighton’s attacking fluidity and movement have unsettled United in this fixture previously, while goalkeeping errors have also been costly. United’s expected goals tally ranks second in the Premier League, and a direct approach with Šeško as a focal point would be a sensible way to press their advantage.

Arne Slot confronted Manchester United’s direct approach after a match in which United prevailed by playing a higher volume of long passes. United’s opening goal came after Bruno Fernandes gobbled up a loose ball following a long punt forward. Slot did not disguise his displeasure in his post-match remarks. “It’s always difficult playing against a team that plays a low block and long balls,” Slot sniped after the 2–1 defeat . “It’s even more difficult when you concede a goal in the opening minutes with a man lying on the ground.

“When you play United, with all their talented players, and they’re playing a low block at our home and playing long balls, the last thing you want is to go behind because it gives them even more confidence,” Slot later added, the bitterness dripping off his words.

Slot also pointed to the difference in playing style compared with recent opponents. “The biggest exception for me was, today compared to the other games we’ve played, was the playing style of our opponent,” Slot explained, the smile back on his face after the end of a four-game losing streak.

The statistical contrast was stark. According to FBref, Manchester United attempted 91 long passes compared with 58 by Eintracht Frankfurt; 28 percent of United’s pass attempts were long, versus 15 percent for Frankfurt. United conceded one goal and allowed six shots on target; Frankfurt conceded five and faced 14 shots on target. The report also notes Eintracht Frankfurt were less reliant upon long balls but were thumped 5–1.

Belgian goalkeeper Lammens became the focal point for United’s direct plan. Of the 47 passes he attempted on Sunday, 45 travelled at least 30 yards. He explained the rationale succinctly. “You have to be realistic,” Lammens reflected.

“They [Liverpool] are going to go man vs. man [off the ball], so coming to Anfield it is quite difficult to build up.

“So, we made the decision that we should get more of a long ball and try to win the second ball, even though we didn’t really have a target striker. We did it quite well, so that’s how we could still push them away.”

Wayne Rooney has publicly revised his view of Bryan Mbeumo after the forward’s decisive contribution in Manchester United’s 2–1 victory at Liverpool. Speaking on his self-titled podcast, Rooney reflected on Mbeumo’s season and the role he has played in a landmark away win.

“For me he has been Manchester United’s standout player this season and he hasn’t got his rewards for his hard work and the sacrifices he’s made for the team throughout the season,” Rooney gushed on his self-titled podcast after watching Mbeumo open the scoring in a 2–1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Rooney added context about his own initial doubts and the goal that changed his mind. “I thought it was a great goal [against Liverpool], and I’ll be honest, I was a bit sceptical when Manchester United signed him, I didn’t know if he had the ability to come and play for Manchester United, but he’s proved me wrong.

“I think he’s been a great addition to the team and by far United’s best player of the season. That’s such a huge win for the manager. I’ve been one of them, I’ve questioned decisions, tactics, players’ desire over this season and last season and that win is massive, to win at Anfield—that’s not easy to do.”

The goal was Mbeumo’s third of the campaign, more than any other player in the squad, and arrived via a prodded finish set up by Amad Diallo. The 26-year-old leads the team in xG, shots, xA and touches in the opposition box, among other metrics, and his work without the ball is notable. Heading into the weekend’s fixtures, Mbeumo had the most runs off the ball of any Premier League player.

“Amad is doing so well in that position, he is perfect for that position,” United head coach Ruben Amorim gushed after Sunday’s trip to Anfield. The natural winger has been reworked into part of a back-five to accommodate the likes of Mbeumo and terrorised Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez.

United’s win at Anfield was their first away victory there since Rooney himself scored the only goal in a 2016 scratchy success, underlining the significance of the result for the club and for the manager.