Manchester United suffered a controversial 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at the weekend but they are favourites to defeat EFL Cup visitors Brighton on Wednesday.
United were unable to capitalise on Phil Foden's early red card for City, while Brighton's solid start to the season continued with a thumping 5-0 victory at 10-man Coventry City.
Manchester United v Brighton Tips Summary
Best Bet - Manchester United to win & both teams to score @ 7/4
Alternative Bet - Benjamin Sesko to be first goalscorer @ 9/2
Bet Builder - Over 2.5 goals, Andrey Santos to be booked & Patrick Dorgu 2+ shots @ 29/4
Manchester United v Brighton Prediction
Best Bet: Manchester United to win & both teams to score @ 7/4
United lost on penalties at Grimsby Town in their only EFL Cup tie last season, but the Red Devils should enjoy a longer run in the competition this time around.
They were frustrated with the officials and by their own performance in Sunday's derby defeat to City, but that was a rare setback for the hosts at Old Trafford, where they had won nine of their previous 10 Premier League fixtures under Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils ended last season with a resounding 3-0 victory away to Brighton and they are worth backing to win a game in which both teams score on Wednesday.
Their previous two home results this term were a 5-2 league win over Ipswich Town and a 4-0 rout of Sabah FC in the UEFA Champions League.
They had 21 shots on target across those two games and their squad depth should give them a vital edge over injury-hit Albion.
Carrick and his opposite number Fabian Hurzeler are both expected to rest first-team regulars for the EFL Cup tie, but the Seagulls will also be missing seven injured players, including classy wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh.
Hurzeler's side still pose an attacking threat, thumping Tromso 4-0, Aston Villa 4-0 and Coventry 5-0 this term, but they also suffered a chaotic 4-3 league defeat at Chelsea.
Alternative Bet: Benjamin Sesko to be first goalscorer @ 9/2
Matheus Cunha led the line for United in Sunday's derby, but Benjamin Sesko should get the nod in the EFL Cup third round.
The Slovenia international has made a promising start to the campaign, coming off the bench to score in the 2-2 draw at Everton before finding the net against Sabah in the UEFA Champions League.
Sesko was not a regular starter in the 2025/26 Premier League, but he still finished the season with a respectable tally of 11 goals at a rate of one every 149 minutes.
He scored in six of his last eight home appearances last season, including January's 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
Sesko had six attempts at goal without success in United's shock EFL Cup defeat at Grimsby last season, but he looks a good bet to break the deadlock against the Seagulls.
Manchester United v Brighton Bet Builder Tip
Over 2.5 goals
Andrey Santos to be booked
Patrick Dorgu 2+ shots
Pays 37/4
Over 2.5 goals was a winning bet in the last five meetings between these clubs and Brighton put five past Coventry in the Premier League on Sunday.
Andrey Santos should get an opportunity in midfield for United and he was booked eight times in 26 league and cup starts for Chelsea last season.
Left-back Patrick Dorgu scored the opener in United's 3-0 final-day win at Brighton in May and had five shots in 56 minutes in his first two Premier League appearances this season.
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Key Match Stats
Manchester United have scored only one first-half goal in four Premier League matches this season
There were over 2.5 goals in six of the last seven games between United and Brighton
Bruno Fernandes has had 19 shots in five appearances for the Red Devils this term
Brighton have won four of their last five Old Trafford meetings with United
Four of Brighton's last five games featured over 3.5 goals
The Seagulls have scored 21 goals in their last six EFL Cup ties
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
