The Premier League opened its doors on Friday night, with Arsenal winning 2-0 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace (Martinelli and Guèhi's own goal). After a Saturday full of emotions (on all those of Fulham-Liverpool), Sunday sees the two Manchester teams engaged: United, at 3 pm Italian time, challenge Brighton at Old Trafford, while at 5:30 pm the reigning champions Manchester City will make their debut at home to West Ham.
The start of the season of Manchester United has been rather troubled, so far: to complicate it, especially the situation involving Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived late compared to his teammates at the summer retreat venue, accompanied by his agent Jorge Mendes; not only that, because just a week ago CR7 became the protagonist of a behavior judged inappropriate by the new coach ten Hag, leaving Old Trafford at the end of the first half of the friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
Man United-Brighton: bad memories for Cristiano Ronaldo
Today's match against Brighton inaugurates a season that for the Red Devils should be, in the intentions, that of returning to the Champions League, given that the sixth place of the 2021-2022 season has brought Manchester United to the Europa League. Last year's disappointing results led the club to inaugurate a new cycle, entrusting it to ten Hag, Dutch coach former Ajax manager. The match against the "Seagulls" is not a game like the others for United, which last season lost in Brighton 4-0, definitively compromising any remaining chance of entering the top 4 of the standings. The Red Devils fans in that circumstance could not help but notice the bitter smile of Ronaldo
For today's game, ten Hag has decided to leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. In his place in the role of left striker will move Jadon Sancho, accompanied by Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes behind Marcus Rashford. In the two-man midfield, Fred and McTominay will move; to defend the posts will be De Gea, in defense ten Hag deploys, from right to left, Dalot, Maguire, the new signing Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.
Manchester United's line-up for the match against Brighton
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Bruno Fernandes, Eriksen, Sancho; Rashford. Head coach: Erik ten Hag
Bench: Heaton, Malacia, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Garner, Van de Beek, Elanga, Garnacho, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Written by Mohammed Ibrahim
