Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester United: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

FA Cup winners Manchester United leave Old Trafford for their first road trip of 2024/25, with a visit to the south coast to take on Brighton & Hove Albion.

Erik Ten Hag's United will travel with high spirits after beating Fulham 1-0 in their first game of the season.

But no side in the Premier League is feeling more upbeat than Brighton right now, after their new US-born head coach Fabian Hurzeler celebrated his first competitive match with a 3-0 triumph at Everton. 

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester United betting picks and predictions

Manchester United to win (+162)

No one will be getting carried away at either the American Express Stadium, home of Brighton, or Old Trafford, Manchester United's base, after winning starts to the 2024/25 Premier League season.

United were 1-0 victors over Fulham in their opener but left it late before substitute Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to grab the winner.

The following day Brighton were given a test by Everton before settling down and running out 3-0 winners. Everton, it has to be said, looked poor, as they were for a lot of last season.

So no wild celebrations but pats on the back all round for jobs well done in week one, and this matchup will give a much better idea of the state of both clubs.

Albion are in something of a transition under their new US-born German head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who has inherited a good playing staff and playing style from his predecessor Roberto de Zerbi. Hurzeler won't need to make too many tweaks.

For United, Erik ten Hag has been given the backing of his club's new board of directors and has started the season well enough. United won at Brighton on the final day of last season and already look a much better side than they were during periods of last season.

England's Kobbie Mainoo has matured into a world-class midfielder, defensive reinforcements have arrived from Bayern Munich in the shape of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, and Zirkzee boosts a front line with plenty of talent.

Their defense will get tested at the AmEx by their old boy Danny Welbeck and - more obviously - by Kaoru Mitoma, the Seagulls' pacy, direct, tricky Japanese winger who is back fit and close to his best.

The reality is that United are prepared to work now and graft for wins and they are being dangled at an attractive price.

Bruno Fernandes Over 1.5 Shots on Target (+162)

Erik ten Hag hadn't planned in the summer to have Bruno Fernandes as his central striker but an injury to Rasmus Hojlund has rather forced the Dutchman's hand.

Ten Hag could stick Joshua Zirkzee through the middle at Brighton although it's not his best position and the 'false 9' approach seemed to work well against Fulham.

Fernandes is blessed with a soccer player's brain, his movement is excellent, and he can dictate play from anywhere. Naturally, he fired off his share of shots against Fulham, six in total and three of which were on target.

It's easy to say, 'yeah, but it was only Fulham', except that a week before he had fired off two shots against Manchester City in the Community Shield, one of which was on target. And he had a goal disallowed.

Fernandes will get openings against Brighton, who take risks and offer up chances, so take the United star to muster Over 1.5 efforts on target.

Lewis Dunk Over 82.5 Passes (-120)

De Zerbi may have gone but it seems Hurzeler sings from the same possession-based songbook.

Last week at Everton - as the away side - they had 68 percent of the ball. A lot of the time they are knocking the ball around in non-dangerous areas, but that's the point when they lure opponents in and pounce.

United will be happy enough to play without the ball because of the pace they possess on the counter through the likes of Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho.

So that means someone like Brighton center back Lewis Dunk is going to be passing the ball - a lot. Last season he averaged 93 passes per game and the 32-year-old should have no difficulty playing Over 82.5 passes on Saturday.

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Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester United odds

Brighton & Hove Albion	+150
Tie	+270
Manchester United	+162

Brighton & Hove Albion player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Joao Pedro (Brighton)	+175
Danny Welbeck (Brighton)	+250
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)	+275
Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)	+300
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)	+260
Joshua Zirkzee (Man Utd)	+175

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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.