Manchester United Struggles To Adapt To Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 System Ahead Of Brighton Clash

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Ruben Amorim has noted that Manchester United players are finding it challenging to adjust to his 3-4-3 formation. As they gear up to face Brighton on Sunday, the Red Devils narrowly avoided a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat at Old Trafford. They were trailing Southampton with just 10 minutes left but managed to secure a draw thanks to Amad Diallo's late hat-trick.

Despite maintaining their unbeaten start to 2025, following a draw against Liverpool and a penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup, Amorim acknowledges there is still much work ahead. Speaking to TNT Sports after the Southampton match, he highlighted their struggles, stating, "They are not suited to playing like that. With the ball, you saw, we had some patterns," adding that it was ultimately a challenging game.

Brighton also celebrated a win on Thursday with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town, marking their first league triumph since mid-November. Fabian Hurzeler expressed satisfaction with the result despite acknowledging it wasn't their best performance. "We controlled the game and were stable out of possession," he said, emphasizing the importance of this win for boosting confidence.

Hurzeler added that while they are pleased with the victory, focus must quickly shift to upcoming challenges. "We have suffered in this period and this win should give us belief and self-confidence," he stated. The team now aims to build on this success as they prepare for their next match.

Bruno Fernandes will be one to watch for Manchester United. He has been involved in six goals in his initial four Premier League matches against Brighton but hasn't scored or assisted in his last six encounters with them. For Brighton, Danny Welbeck could be pivotal after scoring against United earlier this season alongside Joao Pedro.

Welbeck's past performance against United makes him a potential threat. The only Brighton player who has scored both home and away against United in a single Premier League season is Pascal Gross during 2018-19. After being rested midweek, Welbeck might aim to replicate such achievements.

Match Prediction and Statistics

The prediction leans slightly towards Manchester United securing a win despite recent struggles against Brighton. United have lost five of their last six league games against Brighton, including two at Old Trafford. However, Brighton's recent form shows only one win in nine league matches.

The historical context adds intrigue; Brighton's 47% win rate against United is unmatched by any other team in Premier League history. None of their 15 meetings have ended in a draw, with United winning eight times. This fixture will mark the sixth occasion where Brighton faces United while sitting higher in the table.

The Opta Win Probability suggests Manchester United have a 43.5% chance of winning compared to Brighton's 29.8%, with a draw at 26.8%. Given these statistics and current form, Manchester United holds slight favouritism heading into Sunday's clash.