Manchester United secured what has to be the best result of Ruben Amorim’s time in charge so far last weekend as they ran out as 2-1 winners at Anfield, and now they have to back that up against a tough Brighton side in a 5.30pm kick-off in the Premier League on Saturday.
Albion did the league double over United last season and are on a five-game unbeaten run but at the current prices, a victory for the home side looks the best angle.
Amorim and United have more than their fair share of critics but in general, their results have been positive at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils’ only loss at home this season came against current pacesetters Arsenal in the opening round of games, and they have won all three games since – beating Burnley, Chelsea and Sunderland.
Brighton picked up an impressive 2-1 win over Newcastle last weekend at the Amex but their road results have been mixed. The Seagulls have lost at Everton and Bournemouth, picked up a point at bottom club Wolves and have one win, albeit an eye-catching 3-1 success at Chelsea.
This game should be fairly close but United should draw plenty of confidence from beating Liverpool, and with home advantage they can grind out a win over Brighton.
Brighton have only failed to score in one game this season and United have only kept one clean sheet. The Seagulls have also scored in each of their last three trips to Old Trafford (winning all of those games) so they should be able to get on the score sheet even if they can’t make it three wins in a row against their hosts and a 2-1 United victory seems like a reasonable correct score prediction.
Bryan Mbeumo scored his second Premier League goal of the season at Anfield and United’s summer recruit is a strong contender for an anytime goal on Saturday. Mbeumo has been getting plenty of chances, averaging 2.5 shots per-game in the league, and the Cameroonian now has two goals and one assist in his last four games for club and country so it seems as if he is hitting some form.
Meanwhile, Liverpool ended a four-game losing run in emphatic fashion on Wednesday as they claimed a 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt and now have a chance to get back on track in the league at Brentford in the evening kick off on Saturday.
The manner of the victory in Germany will also please under-pressure Reds boss, Arne Slot, as his side responded to conceding an early goal to fight back, but Brentford should put up a fight as they have only lost once at their Gtech Community Stadium home this season.
Brentford have picked up a win over Manchester United and held Chelsea to a draw at home this season but Liverpool are a side they have struggled against in recent seasons.
The Merseyside outfit have won each of the last five games between these two sides and should come into the game in confident mood after their midweek romp.
Brentford didn’t offer a great deal in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in their last home game after conceding an early goal, and it could be a similar story against the defending champions on Saturday so a Liverpool win is a confident pick here.
Liverpool won both games against Brentford 2-0 last season but we could be in line for goals at both ends in West London on Saturday.
Slot’s side have struggled for clean sheets as they have managed just two in 13 games across all competitions this season, while Brentford have a reasonable attacking record with 11 goals scored in eight Premier League games.
As such, a 3-1 win for the visitors is the correct score prediction, potentially with a late away goal to kill the game off, and Hugo Ekitike is a clear contender for an anytime goal. The France international scored against former club Frankfurt, taking his tally to seven goals fort the season across all competitions.
