Brighton v United: Carabao Cup preview

The fourth-round tie follows hot on the heels from Saturday’s Premier League thriller, when Bruno Fernandes smashed home a 100th-minute penalty to steal the three points for the Reds.

With the fixtures coming thick and fast, both managers are expected to ring the changes – but if it’s even half as exciting as our match at the weekend, we're all in for a real treat.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game…

ESSENTIAL INFO
Kick-off at the Amex Stadium is scheduled for 19:45 BST and fans in the UK can watch the match live on Sky Sports. Supporters can also follow our rolling updates on ManUtd.com and within our Official App, while MUTV will provide live build-up, radio commentary and reaction from 18:40 BST.

CARABAO CUP: THE STORY SO FAR
The Reds negotiated a way through to the last 16 with goals from Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood securing a 3-0 win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

As they’re not involved in European competition, Brighton had to get through two rounds to make it to this stage. A 4-0 home triumph over Portsmouth was followed up by a two-goal win at Preston last week, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Alexis Mac Allister on target in both victories as Graham Potter opted to rotate his XI. The winner of this tie will progress to the last eight, which is set to be played the week commencing 21 December.

EARLY TEAM NEWS
Don’t expect the teams to be unchanged from Saturday’s 3-2 win – Ole made 10 alterations to his line-up in the third round, while the Seagulls have gone into each of their previous two ties with an entirely rotated side. For United, Dean Henderson, Eric Bailly, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Donny van de Beek could be in contention to be brought back in after their impressive showings in Bedfordshire, but Axel Tuanzebe is a few weeks away from returning. The home side are still missing Yves Bissouma as he serves out the final game of his three-match suspension, while Jose Izqueirdo, Christian Walton and Florin Andone are long-term absentees.

ONE TO WATCH
Pascal Gross may have only played 26 minutes of Premier League football this season, but he’s been impressive in the Carabao Cup, laying on an assist in both of his side’s wins and also captaining the Seagulls during last week’s game at Deepdale. If Potter continues his preference for rotation, expect the German playmaker to start once again on Wednesday. The 29-year-old also has an admirable scoring record against United, having netted three goals in three games against us between May 2018 and January 2019.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
United have previously been drawn against the south-coast club once in this competition – emerging 2-1 aggregate victors in a two-legged second-round tie during the 1992/93 season. After a 1-1 draw at the Goldstone Ground, in a match notable for the debut of one David Beckham, the Reds completed the job a fortnight later in M16, courtesy of an early Mark Hughes goal. The Seagulls are bidding to equal a club record on Wednesday – they’ve only ever made it to the quarter-finals of the League Cup on one previous occasion, and that came way back in 1978/79.

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistants: Daniel Robathan and Derek Eaton
Fourth official: Simon Hooper

VAR is not in operation at this stage of the Carabao Cup.

RIVALS WATCH

TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
Tottenham v Chelsea (19:45 BST) 

WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
Newport v Newcastle (17:30 BST)
Burnley v Manchester City (19:00 BST)
Brighton v UNITED (19:45 BST)
Everton v West Ham (19:45 BST)

THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER
Brentford v Fulham (17:30 BST)
Aston Villa v Stoke (19:00 BST)
Liverpool v Arsenal (19:45 BST)

The new season is here. Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available now from United Direct.