Ten Hag names team to face Brighton

Both sides won during the opening round of matches, with the Reds defeating Fulham 1-0 before Everton were dismissed 3-0 at home by the Seagulls, seven days ago.

The 12:30 BST kick-off presents a tough challenge but we won this fixture last season, in our previous Premier League assignment on the road, triumphing 2-0 at the Amex Stadium on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, with goals from Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund, of course, is currently absent through injury so Bruno Fernandes is likely to be deployed in a 'false-nine' role as Ten Hag has retained the same XI that started against the Cottagers on the opening night.

Noussair Mazraoui looks certain to be at right-back again, after his impressive debut, with Dalot on the left, with Amad and Marcus Rashford keeping their wide slots.

The bench is also the same, with ex-Brighton man Toby Collyer among the substitutes.

Erik was asked about Jadon Sancho's absence from the squad by TNT Sports and said: "He [Jadon] is here but we had a choice to make and we had some issues.

"So we need a full squad. He is one of them and he has to compete for his position. "From game to game, we will have a look. We need every position in the squad double as it's going to be a long season."

In terms of any more movement before next Friday's deadline, Erik added: "So we will see. We always have to look to get better but that has to be the right options."

THE TEAMS

Brighton: Steele, Hinselwood, Dunk (c), Van Hecke, Veltman, Gilmour, Milner, Mitoma, Joao Pedro, Minteh, Welbeck.

Substitutes: Rushworth, Lamptey, Igor Julio, Webster, Ensico, Rutter, Baleba, Adingra, Ayari.

United: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Mount, Rashford; Fernandes (c).

Substitutes: Bayindir, De Ligt, Evans, Collyer, Eriksen, McTominay, Antony, Garnacho, Zirkzee.