Manchester United travel to face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday as they look to boost their European hopes ahead of next season.
Although it is still mathematically possible for United to get into the top four, such a scenario seems rather unlikely, with fourth-place Arsenal five points ahead having played two fewer matches. Still, the Red Devils will be aiming to ensure that they at least secure a place in the Europa League in their final two games of 2022/23.
Brighton, meanwhile, beat Arsenal and Tottenham last month but also suffered a heavy defeat to Manchester City. They are in ninth place in the table after 35 matches, and only a win will keep alive their faint hopes of a top-seven finish.
It has been a woeful season for United but they will be determined to finish the campaign strongly ahead of the arrival of new manager Erik ten Hag, who will take charge from July 1.
United secured a 3-0 victory over Brentford on Monday, while Brighton beat Wolves by the same scoreline in their last outing.
Sporting News is following the match live and providing live score updates, commentary.
Table of Contents
Brighton vs. Man United live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Brighton | 1 | — | — |
| Man United | 0 | — | — |
Goals:
BRI — Caicedo — 16th min.
Brighton vs. Man United live updates, highlights from Premier League
Second half: Manchester United are making a couple of changes, with Fred and Cavani on for Matic and Elanga.
Halftime: It has been all Brighton in the first half, and Manchester United’s away struggles look likely to continue, unless Ralf Rangnick can turn things around with his halftime team talk.
45th min: Cristiano Ronaldo picks up a booking. He chases down a backpass, and slides in as the Brighton defender looks to clear it. The defender instead takes a touch, and Ronaldo’s momentum takes him into his opponent, without getting the ball.
44th min: There’s a mixup at the back for United, following a straight, long ball. Varane looks to be guiding the ball back to David De Gea, but he plays it into the path of Danny Welbeck. He tries to lift the ball over the ‘keeper, who has come out of his goal, but it comes to him too quickly just outside the area, and his attempted lob sails over the bar.
42nd min: Brighton are playing with confidence. Nemanja Matic is caught on the ball in the left back position, and gives away a free kick as he tries to win it back. It comes to nothing, but the home side look to be seeing out the half in the ascendancy.
37th min: At this point, it feels very much like Brighton should be looking to score their second. Another promising attack isn’t converted, this time ending with Cucurella on the left.
34th min: Brighton win the ball high up, on the right, and smartly work the ball along the right, before Victor Lindelof has to be alert to stop a cutback reaching Danny Welbeck. The visitors are struggling to cope with the energy and movement of the home side.
30th min: Brighton are in the ascendancy once again, with Dalot having to be alert to head away a March cross, with Welbeck lurking at the far post.
27th min: United have managed to inject more tempo into their game since the goal, but Brighton have managed to hold firm. Play has stopped as Anthony Elanga receives treatment, after being caught high on the leg by Yves Bissouma.
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20th min: United have responded, somewhat. Their latest attack sees Nemanja Matic dribbles into the penalty area from the left. He opts to cut the ball back to the edge of the area, where Jaun Mata’s shot is blocked by Caicedo for a corner.
16th min: GOAL!
Brighton are ahead! They’ve had the better of the opening 15 minutes, and they’ve got their reward. They get the ball into the area, but the initial shot is blocked. It comes out to Moises, left of centre, 25 yards out, and he fires a low drive that beats David De Gea at his near post.
13th min: The hosts have seen more of the ball so far, but neither ‘keeper has had too much to do until this point. Brighton have had a few set pieces, but they haven’t made them count yet.
6th min: There hasn’t been too much action so far. Brighton had a few corners, playing a short routine from one which Victor Lindelof had to cut out.
3rd min: It is that back three shape for Brighton, with Cucurella on the left of the three, and Trossard wide on the left. The hosts have had the better of the opening few minutes.
Kickoff!
3 mins from kickoff: The teams are lined up in the tunnel now, and they’ll be out on the pitch soon. Brighton haven’t won at home this calendar year, and Potter’s side have been better on the road than they have at home. This could be a good opportunity for them to set that right.
10 mins from kickoff: The teams have finished their warmups at the Amex Stadium, and they’ll be lining up in the tunnel soon.
15 mins from kickoff: Ralf Rangnick will be hoping for an improvement in his side’s away form when they get underway on the south coast, but Brighton aren’t the type of side who usually give much to their opponents.
30 mins from kickoff: Graham Potter’s side were expected to line up with a back three, but it could be a four. In truth, the positional versatility that’s defined Brighton has made them a really tricky opponent for whoever they come up against, with the manager making tweaks to side from one game to the next.
45 mins from kickoff: United have had to tweet their lineup again, having referred to their number seven as Ronalod in their first graphic. Awkward. It’ll be interesting to see how the midfield shapes up, with Mata and Fernandes both starting, while Lindelof and Varane continue as the defensive pairing.
60 mins from kickoff: The away side have announced their team, with Juan Mata getting a league start.
Team news is out for hosts, with former Red Danny Welbeck leading the line.
90 mins from kickoff: The visitors are in place on the south coast, and so are we, as The Sporting News brings you live updates from the game.
Brighton vs. Man United lineups
Brighton are without Enock Mwepu due to injury, while Jeremy Sarmiento also misses out. Tariq Lamptey was in contention to start, but only makes the bench.
Brighton lineup (3-4-2-1): Sanchez (GK) — Veltman, Dunk, Cucurella — March, Caicedo, Bissouma, Trossard — Gross, Trossard — Welbeck
Brighton subs (9): Steele, Lamptey, Webster, Maupay, Lallana, Alzate, Duffy, Offiah, Ferguson
As far as Manchester United are concerned, Jadon Sancho is out with tonsillitis and Marcus Rashford has bronchitis, but captain Harry Maguire returns following a knee injury. Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw remain sidelined, while Eric Bailly is out with a back problem.
Manchester United lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles — McTominay, Matic — Elanga, Mata, Fernandes — Ronaldo
Manchester United subs (9): Henderson, Fernandez, Jones, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Lingard, Cavani, Garnacho
How to watch Brighton vs. Man United
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | May 7 | May 7 | May 7 | May 8 |
| Time | 17:30 BST | 12:30 ET | 12:30 ET | 02:30 AEST |
| TV Channel | Sky Sports Main Event | USA Network | DAZN | Optus Sport |
| Streaming | Sky Sports | NBCSports.com | DAZN | Optus Sport |
In the UK, the game will be live on Sky Sports, while in America it will be broadcast live on USA Network, with live streaming available on NBCSports.com.