Man United Face Brighton in EFL Cup Showdown

England League Cup - Manchester United VS Brighton Hove Albion
Match Time: 17-09-2026 03:00 Thursday (UTC+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips

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Manchester United and Brighton meet at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup third round after contrasting Premier League results. The winner will advance to the fourth-round draw, with those ties scheduled for the week of October 26.

Team Analysis:

Manchester United suffered a controversial 1-0 defeat to 10-man Manchester City and have made a poor start to the Premier League season, winning just once in four games. Brighton, meanwhile, sit fourth after a 5-0 win over Coventry and arrive at Old Trafford with seven wins in their last 11 meetings with United.

Player Situation:

Manchester United remain without several injured players, including Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo and Carlos Baleba, while Luke Shaw faces a late fitness test. Brighton also have a lengthy injury list, with Pascal Gross among the key players after contributing three goals against Coventry.

Result Prediction:

Brighton head into the EFL Cup clash with strong confidence and plenty of attacking firepower, while Manchester United continue to struggle for consistency. The Seagulls could take advantage of United's defensive weaknesses and lack of cutting edge to progress.

Predicted Result: Manchester United 1-2 Brighton.