It’s officially the last weekend of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign and two clubs who are typically in the European mix will simply be looking to finish the season on a high note as 10th-place Brighton welcomes eighth-spot Manchester United to Falmer Stadium on the South Coast. The kick-off is scheduled for 11 AM ET. The Seagulls are coming off a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea mid-week and will have a quick turnaround here. The Red Devils also played Wednesday, beating Newcastle 3-2 at Old Trafford. Continue reading for the Brighton vs Manchester United picks.
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There’s really no favorite here. Brighton sits at +110 odds, while United comes back at +200. A draw is priced at +310. While historically the Red Devils typically beat the Seagulls, that has not been the case in recent years. Brighton has five wins in their last six against Man U, including a 3-1 victory last September at the Theatre of Dreams.
Overall, Brighton did not live up to expectations this term after making Europa a year ago. They compiled a 12-12-13 record and conceded more goals (60) than they scored (55). That’s never a recipe for success. The Seagulls bowed out in the Round of 16 in Europe, losing 4-1 to Roma on aggregate after finishing atop their pod in group play.
In the Premier League, Roberto De Zerbi’s men just lacked consistency on both ends of the pitch. Joao Pedro’s nine goals were a team-best, while there were only a couple of others who hit the back of the net six times. On a more positive note, they did have a winning record at the AMEX, which is a good sign for Sunday.
When it comes to current form, Brighton is just 1-1-3 in their last five outings. Before the loss to Chelsea, they tied Newcastle, beat Villa, and lost back-to-back games to Man City and Bournemouth. Making any European competition for next year is out of the cards given how far back they are, so Sunday is only about giving their supporters a show before the summer hits.
Anytime a club of Man United’s stature misses the Champions League, it’s a big deal. But when they miss every competition, it’s horrid. However, if Erik ten Hag’s side wins the FA Cup on May 25th against Manchester City, they will have a spot in Europa. Overall though, the Red Devils were poor in 23-24′. They also allowed in more goals (58) than scored (55), with their attack struggling to produce the goods. Marcus Rashford, their No. 9, had a forgettable season, netting only six times.
Bruno Fernandes was the leading man, scoring 10 goals and assisting another eight. Rasmus Hojlund also started to find himself, scoring nine of his own. Alejandro Garnacho and Scott McTominay contributed their fair share in the final third as well. The reality is Rashford did play better, there is a realistic chance this side is back in Europe with no questions asked.
On the other hand, their defensive woes were clear throughout the season, too, conceding at least three goals in numerous big matches with Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, among others. When the Red Devils needed to show up, they didn’t.
United is 2-1-2 in their last five EPL appearances and notched an important three points on Wednesday. Youngster Kobbie Maino scored the opener while Hojlund and Amad Diallo also got in on the fun. Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall scored for Newcastle, but Hall’s came in injury time. Too little too late.
The Seagulls have really had their way with United since 2022. I’ll take them to keep it going and hand the Red Devils a defeat on the final day of the season.
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