Follow live coverage as Manchester United face Brighton & Hove Albion today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Manchester United FC 1 - 3 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:09The full-time whistle goes as boos and jeers ring around a half-empty Old Trafford, as Brighton complete a 3-1 victory over Manchester United to make it three wins on the spin in Salford! Just as they did in the first half, the Seagulls began the second brightly, seeing Joao Pedro's goal disallowed by VAR just eight minutes after the restart following a foul in the build-up. Undeterred, Brighton did re-take the lead on the hour mark as Minteh crossed for Mitoma to fire home at the far post, and after Onana spilled a simple ball straight to the feet of Rutter, the substitute pounced to make it 3-1. Baleba had another shot blocked early on as the Seagulls ramped up 1.98 xG to United's 1.41, with Diallo, Zirkzee and Garnacho all having decent chances to no avail for the hosts. After eight games without a win, Brighton now have two in two and move up to ninth in the Premier League table, while Manchester United remain 13th following a sixth defeat in the last nine, underlining just how big a task Ruben Amorim has on his hands at Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:01FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-3 BRIGHTON.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:59Yellow Card Solomon Benjamin March
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:59Yellow Card Leny Olivier Yoro
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:59CHANCE!!! Enciso turns on the ball brilliantly to find Mitoma, who links up with Rutter ahead of him in the box. He can't quite get a shot away, as United struggle to get it clear before Maguire finally steps in!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:56Yellow Card Matthijs de Ligt
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:56Substitution João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus Julio César Enciso Espínola
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:55Substitution Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba Diego Alexander Gómez Amarilla
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:54BLOCKED!!! Antony does well to keep Fernandes' floated ball over the top in the field of play, as he cuts it back for Diallo. He tees up Garnacho, but Lamptey gets in the way of his first-time strike to give the Red Devils a corner!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:53We'll play another EIGHT added minutes on the end of the second half, and could that prove to be enough time for United to find their way back into this game?
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:52WIDE!! Garnacho drifts across to the right to link up with Diallo and Fernandes, but the substitute can only blaze wide from close range after being teed up by his captain!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:51Manchester United lost three of their four Sunday Premier League games under Erik ten Hag this season, and are now on course to lose just a second in eight since his departure, under both Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:48SAVED!!! United cut thriough Brighton at speed as Fernandes slips Diallo in behind the defence on the right, but he's forced wide again and his byline cutback is pawed away from danger by Verbruggen!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:46Maguire's floated ball over the top finds Dalot on the run, before the wing-back's attempted cutback is deflected behind for a corner by the covering Mitoma.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:46Substitution Pervis Josué Estupiñán Tenorio Tariq Kwame Nii-Lante Lamptey
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:45Substitution Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee Rasmus Winther Højlund
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:45Substitution Noussair Mazraoui Antony Matheus dos Santos
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:43The hosts have numbers queuing up in the area as Fernandes whips in a first-time cross, but Zirkzee can't get there as Veltman sends a free header clear.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:41It's a fourth goal in his last three games for Rutter, and a seventh scored by a substitute for Brighton in the Premier League this season – only Bournemouth (11) and Fulham (10) have more.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:38BLOCKED!!! Diallo is picked out down the right flank again by De Ligt and cuts inside at pace to tee up Zirkzee, but the striker's first-time effort is blocked by Van Hecke!!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:37Goal Georginio Lucius Rutter
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:37Mitoma's goal is on course to be the winner in this game, and by scoring it he's now overtaken Shinji Okazaki as the top-scoring Japanese player in Premier League history with 15 strikes.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:35Brighton prepare to whip in a corner from the right-hand side but there's plenty pf pushing and shoving going on in the goalmouth, with Van Hecke currently prone in the back of the net having gone down dramatically from an accidental Onana elbow.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:32Minteh darts down the right and takes on Dalot as he makes his way into the box, seeing an attempted cross blocked behind by the Portuguese.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:30Garnacho looks to go around the outside of Veltman down the left channel and hits the deck under pressure in the box, but there's nowhere near enough pressure to yield a penalty and the referee waves play on.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:30Substitution Yankuba Minteh Moat Solomon Benjamin March
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:29Successive Red Devils corners are swung in by Fernandes, with Verbruggen tipping the first over his own crossbar and then getting enough on the second to allow the Seagulls time to come away on the counter-attack.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:27Maguire's forward clearance ends up being a superb cross-field pass for Dalot, who bursts into the area and tees up Fernandes, only for his compatriot to send a poor attempt at a shot well wide of the mark.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:26Substitution Kobbie Boateng Mainoo Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:26Substitution Manuel Ugarte Ribeiro Tobias Christopher Collyer
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:22Assist Yankuba Minteh Moat
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:22CHANCE!!! A United free-kick is whipped in from the left by Fernandes with both Zirkzee and De Ligt rising for it in the middle, but neither Dutchman can make contact on it and the ball flashes wide!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:22Yellow Card Manuel Ugarte Ribeiro
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:22Brighton remain on the offensive as Ayari's deflected cross falls for Minteh on the right, and though he does swing the ball back into the middle, it's an easy take for Onana.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:20NO GOAL!!! Brighton's hearts are broken as the strike is ruled out!! The hosts' protests lead to VAR asking on-field referee Peter Bankes to review contact from Van Hecke on Dalot, and after he spots that the Seagulls defender didn't touch the ball, the goal is chalked off and a free-kick instead goes Manchester United's way.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:18NO GOAL!!! Brighton's hearts are broken as the strike is ruled out!! VAR ask on-field referee Peter Bankes to review contact from Van Hecke on Dalot, and after he spots that the Seagulls defender didn't touch the ball, the goal is chalked off and a free-kick instead goes the way of the hosts.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:17BALL IN THE NET!! Brighton think they've taken another early lead!! Ayari stands over a free-kick 30 yards from goal, and despite slipping over as he crosses the ball in, the Seagulls are still able to make the most of the chance. Welbeck and Van Hecke's flicks aren't dealt with, and with Onana coming to collect the loose ball, it falls for Joao Pedro and he slots underneath the goakeeper and into the far corner. The Seagulls wheel away in celebration, but Manchester United's players aren't happy about something...
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:13Goal João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:13Brighton have a higher win rate (38.9%) and average more goals per game (1.6) on Sundays than they do any other day of the week, on which they’ve played more than 10 games in the Premier League.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:11BLOCKED!!! Diallo is picked out be De Ligt's cross-field pass and cuts inside off the right wing. He finds space in the box and lets fly, but Dunk blocks his left-footed strike!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:10BLOCKED!!! Minteh's deflected ball into the area is collected by Mitoma and he tees up Baleba, whose shot is lashed goalwards before taking a big deflection off Maguire from right in front!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:09Welbeck and Joao Pedro scored Brighton’s goals in their 2-1 victory against Manchester United earlier this season. The only Seagulls player to score home and away against the Red Devils in the same Premier League campaign is Pascal Gross in 2018-19.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:08Both teams' chances in our live win probability tracker have hardly moved the needle after that evenly-matched first half, with Manchester United still leading the way on a 35.3% chance of victory to Brighton's 27.2%. Both sides will be looking to seize the initiative in the second half though, as Ugarte gets things back up and running for the hosts!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:03Minteh's fifth-minute opener got Brighton up and running, and the Gambian has been active at both ends for the visitors thus far. His early strike was one of two shots from four touches in the box, with another big chance created from five final-third passes. The 20-year-old may have only won two of his seven duels, but has also chipped in with two successful tackles and an interception, picking up a yellow card for his late effort on De Ligt.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:57There's the half-time whistle, and there's nothing to separate Manchester United and Brighton so far as they head into the break level at 1-1! The Seagulls flew out of the blocks and were ahead inside five minutes as Mitoma teed Minteh up for the simplest of finishes, with Brighton generating 0.80 xG and seeing a late effort from Welbeck blocked by Ugarte. However, they weren't ahead for long, as Fernandes pulled a close-range effort wide before levelling things up from 12 yards; Zirkzee winning United the penalty after being dragged back by Baleba. The hosts did produce 0.98 xG of their own, but there's been few other chances of note for either side in a game which is still there for the taking!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:51HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 BRIGHTON.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:50CHANCE!!! Fernandes drills the free-kick in towards Maguire at the far post for United, and the defender is unmarked as he sends a downward header back across the face of goal and wide, only to see the offside flag go up anyway!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:49We'll play two additional minutes of first-half stoppage time at Old Trafford, as the hosts prepare to swing in a free-kick following Mitoma's blatant shirt pull.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:48BLOCKED!!! Minteh seizes onto a stray pass and plays Welbeck into the area, but Dalot slides in to block the former Red Devil's shot and De Ligt hammers the loose ball clear!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:46Manchester United have lost five and won just two of the seven league matches they've gone 1-0 down in so far this season, but will hope the impetus they've gained since the equaliser can help them attain the three points.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:46Yellow Card Yankuba Minteh Moat
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:45CHANCE!!! Ugarte's clipped pass in behind sends Diallo clean through on goal, but he's forced wide by Verbruggen and Brighton are able to get enough numbers back in cover before the offside flag goes up!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:43Ayari looks to drive into open space in the final third, but takes a loose touch and catches Maguire late in his sliding attempt to keep the ball.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41Estupinan is released into space down the left and his deflected cross in comes to Welbeck. He goes back down the same side looking to continue the chance, but Maguire's there to hammer his near-post cutback away from danger.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:40Manchester United have lost five of their last six Premier League games against Brighton, including both meetings at Old Trafford during that run. Only against Manchester City (twice) have they lost three in a row at home in the competition.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:40The hosts counter quickly from left to right as Mazraoui and Diallo combine from Fernandes' pass. The Ivorian make his way into the area and takes on Dunk, but the ball ricochets back off him and rolls behind for a goal-kick.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:36Dunk's rangy cross-field pass picks out Minteh down the right flank, and he makes his way into the area before seeing his cutback for Joao Pedro cut out by Fernandes.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35None of the 15 Premier League meetings between Manchester United (eight wins) and Brighton (seven) have ended level – only Manchester United v Wigan Athletic has been played more often without any draws (16 times) in the competition’s history.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:33Estupinan is the latest Brighton player to hit the deck and stay down for an extended period, being clipped late by Ugarte as the Seagulls win a deep free-kick in United's half.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:31Play is halted for Ayari to get treatment after colliding with his team-mate Baleba in mid-air and landing heavily on his back, but the two are soon back to their feet and we're back up and running.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:28United have now scored their last seven Premier League penalties, last failing to score when Fernandes missed against Chelsea in December 2023. The Red Devils skipper has netted six of those spot-kicks since that most recent miss.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:25PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED!!! A loose pass out of his box by Verbruggen comes straight back via Amad to Zirkzee, and after the Dutchman is dragged down on the turn by Baleba, the referee has no choice but to point to the spot!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:24Penalty Goal Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:24Fernandes and Zirkzee play a smart one-two down the left as the former cuts the ball back towards Amad arriving, but the Ivorian goes down under pressure from Estupinan and the referee waves away any penalty appeals!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:23Yellow Card Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:21WIDE!!! Amad and Mazraoui combine superbly down the right and the latter tees up Fernandes in the middle, but the United captain can only wrap his first-time strike around the outside of the near post!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:20Dalot does brilliantly to burst down the byline and gets around the outside of Minteh before cutting back for Ugarte, but the Uruguayan's shot from the edge of the area is blocked by Ayari.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:17This is the sixth time Brighton have faced Manchester United in the Premier League while above them in the league table, and the latest into a season they’ve done so. Having lost the first two such matches, the Seagulls have now won each of the last three, and are already well on course to make it four in a row.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:16A line-breaking throughball from Fernandes releases Dalot charging into the final third, but the goalscorer Minteh tracks him all the way and slides in to win it back for Brighton.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:15Zirkzee looks to have squandered possession but wins it straight back from Estupinan, crossing into the area where Fernandes a near-post effort blocked away by Dunk.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:12Another forward ball into Mitoma's path, this time from Dunk, threatens to release the Seagulls winger in behind, but this time United are spared by the offside flag going up.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:11Brighton have avoided defeat in their last six Premier LEague matches when scoring first, since losing 2-1 to runaway leaders Liverpool back in November.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:07Assist Kaoru Mitoma
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:07Brighton have won seven of their 15 Premier League meetings with Manchester United – the Seagulls have the highest win rate against the Red Devils of any side in the competition’s history (47%).
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:07Goal Yankuba Minteh Moat
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:06CHANCE!! An early opening for Brighton!!! Joao Pedro charges down De Ligt to come away with possession on the right. He drills an effort across the face of goal, where Onana gets first contact, pushing the ball into Welbeck as it skews behind for a goal-kick!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:04Following a poem and minute's applause in memory of Manchester United legend Denis Law, who passed away on Friday, the visitors get us underway via the boot of Ayari.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:58Neither of these two sides have been in great form coming into this game aside from their drought-breaking wins last time out, but it’s still 13th placed Manchester United who are being backed to win this one. The hosts have a 44.8% win probability rating in our live tracker, with Brighton down on 30.1% despite being three places higher in the table – as the teams head out onto the Old Trafford pitch!
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:53Three changes are also made by Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, with Lewis Dunk back to captain the side and Yankuba Minteh replacing Simon Adingra on the right flank. Former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck is also back after persistent injury troubles this season, and will lead the line against his former club.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:48Amorim makes three changes to the side which came back to beat Southampton three days ago, with Harry Maguire and Joshua Zirkzee both coming in. Diogo Dalot also returns at wing-back following suspension, with Lisandro Martinez, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho dropping out and hat-trick hero Amad moving into the frontline.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:42BRIGHTON SUBS: Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster, Solly March, Julio Enciso, Simon Adingra, Georginio Rutter, Diego Gomez, Ruairi McConville.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:42BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Pervis Estupinan; Carlos Baleba, Yasin Ayari; Yankuba Minteh, Joao Pedro, Kaoru Mitoma; Danny Welbeck.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:42MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Altay Bayindir, Lisandro Martinez, Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro, Antony, Toby Collyer.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:37MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-2-1): Andre Onana; Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt; Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Diogo Dalot; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes; Joshua Zirkzee.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:37Brighton broke a barren run of their own against Ipswich Town in their last match, with a 2-0 victory their first in nine Premier League games, stretching back to late November. The Seagulls beat United 2-1 with an injury-time winner at the start of the season, and will be keen to complete a league double over the Red Devils.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:37Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils finally got back to winning ways in the league last time out after four games without victory, as Amad Diallo’s late hat-trick sealed a 3-1 comeback victory over bottom side Southampton. Having edged Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup third round prior to this, the hosts are looking to make it three wins in a row in all competitions for the first time this season.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:37Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this fixture in the Premier League, as Manchester United host Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
