Many would have thought that Brighton may need time to find their feet under the tutelage of new head coach Fabian Hurzeler, but they began the 2024-25 campaign with a bang as they cruised to a 3-0 victory away against 10-man Everton last weekend.
Kaoru Mitoma‘s first-half opener was followed by a brilliant second goal from Danny Welbeck just before the hour mark. Substitute Simon Adingra then rubbed salt into Everton’s wounds by netting a third in the closing stages, and it could have ended up 4-0 to the Seagulls had Yasin Ayari not drifted a yard offside before tapping home from close range.
At the age of just 31, Hurzeler is the youngest Premier League manager in history and although he was thrilled to kick-start his reign in style, the German intends to ‘stay humble’ and has acknowledged that he is keen to get advice from senior players including 38-year-old James Milner, who has begun his record 23rd season as a Premier League player.
Brighton’s fast start to the new campaign comes after they registered four wins from four pre-season matches by an aggregate score of 14-3, including a thumping 4-0 victory over La Liga outfit Villarreal at the Amex Stadium.
The Seagulls may have lost to Man United on home soil last season, but they have won each of their other four matches across a stretch of five Premier League meetings, including a 4-0 home win in May 2022 and an equally memorable 3-1 victory at Old Trafford in September last year, so there is reason for Hurzeler and co to be optimistic of success on Saturday.
Six days after losing on penalties to rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield, Man United left it late to claim all three points in a slender 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford in the opening match of the new Premier League season last Friday.
The Red Devils gradually grew into the closely-fought contest after sluggish start and had summer signing Joshua Zirkzee to thank, as he came off the substitutes’ bench to slot home the match-winner three minutes from time.
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Manager Erik ten Hag believes that success over Fulham will ‘strengthen the belief and confidence’ within his team and has encouraged his players to continue improving as the season progresses if they wish to fulfil their targets.
Before facing Liverpool, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur in September, Man United will conclude the month of August with Saturday’s trip to Brighton and will endeavour to win their first two games in a Premier League season for the first time since 2017-18.
Success is not a given at the Amex Stadium, though, as the Red Devils have lost 43% of their previous 14 Premier League encounters with the Seagulls – their highest loss rate against any opponent in the division’s history.
